My Mom's Decision To Stay In Guatemala

In 1977 my grandmother Maria, migrated to the United States of America from San Sebastian, Guatemala. Although, she was surrounded by family she felt she had no place left for her in Guatemala. Her husband had left her for another woman and money was scarcely low. Days were heavy with disappointment, but she was young, and determined to construct a new, successful, life in the United States, despite leaving behind her children from her failed marriage. My mom was only 3 when my grandmother left Guatemala. At 9 years old, my mom was informed that my grandma would be picking her up to live in the United States. The idea of saying goodbye to her best friends and close family members crushed my mom’s spirit. She wanted to stay in Guatemala forever.
My grandmother explained to her, “America is my home now, and it is time for you come home with me”. Being only 9 years old, my mom had absolutely no say in the matter. She left Guatemala with my grandma to arrive in Mexico. They stayed in Mexico for a short period of time while looking for an experienced, trustworthy, coyote to take them across the border.
Although, my mother describes crossing border in the dead of night a terrifying experience, she says the biggest struggle she faced when coming to America was adjusting to her new family.
My grandmother was indeed her biological mother, but she did not raise her, nor did she really know her. The relationship my mother had with my grandmother was closer to what people would have with an estranged relative that you only saw a couple times a year. To make matters worse, my grandmother had also remarried a man who was not very fond of my mother and her little brother Arturo. After coming to America my mother’s style of living completely changed. My grandmother was excessively strict and quick to discipline when angered. This was very different compared to how my mom and uncle were raised in Guatemala. Back home, everyone spoke to them in gentle, loving manner. Soon enough, my grandmother had two more children with her new husband. My mom and her little brother felt like outcasts. Both of their parents had started new families and it was clear that they stood in the way of their parent’s new beginnings. Even though my mother and uncle had no say in the matter they came to live their new, strange, life in the United States as illegal
immigrants.
Fortunately, the Dream Act opens doors of opportunity for thousands of children whose parents brought them over illegally. The Dream Act was designed to help undocumented immigrants obtain lawful employment and allow students to receive a college education (The Dream). The American Immigration council states, “An undocumented high-school graduate or GED recipient would be eligible to adjust to conditional lawful permanent resident (LPR) status if they have been physically present in the United States for at least five years and were younger than 16 when they first entered the country”. Young people would be given temporary residency for six years and must meet all the conditions on the bill, otherwise be subject to deportation. According to the National Immigration Center, students must graduate from a two year college or certain vocational colleges, or serve in the U.S armed forces for at least two years. After these requirements are met immigrants can obtain citizenship. The Dream Act is an excellent bill because it does not criminalize people who illegally came into this country as a child. This bill also cuts crime because undocumented immigrants who are eligible for the Dream Act are given options on how to provide for themselves. They do not have to resort to illegal ways to get money. This also helps prevent businesses and corporations from taking advantage of illegal immigrants. Many illegal immigrants accept jobs that are unsafe for very low wages and feel they cannot speak up about their mistreatment due to their citizenship status. People who have an (LPR) status feel they are more protected under the law.