Immigrants

Read to Open Your Mind

Usually I stay clear from issues that cause intense debate and emotion in people. Simply, I don’t believe it’s my calling to convince people to think a certain way. The only exception is in regards to my beliefs as a Christian. I am unapologetic about my beliefs, respectful of the beliefs of others; and will share in the midst of debate and emotion when people are open.

I pondered for weeks whether I should write this story, not mine, but a story that needs to be told. During my most recent trip to Houston, TX I sat next to a young man and his is the story I am telling.

Houston Skyline: picture taken from my window at the Hampton Inn Downtown

We chatted the whole flight…about 2 hours in the air, and he answered my questions. I kept thinking out loud…’no way!’ I did not realize how many misperceptions we have in regards to immigration, and my parents were immigrants from Cyprus. The difference is, my father was a bio-physicist and was invited to the US back in the late 60’s. I felt and experienced a lot growing up with immigrant parents, however it has been a life of privilege.

His story is one of struggle and in the midst, he has hope, grit and a determination that is impressive.

He was raised in a village of 500 in Mexico and at age 12, with opportunity to make a living being lost, his family paid to come to the US. When the money was stolen, the family came illegally across the border with help of coyotes. He successfully completed school in a rural town in TN stating everyone treated him and his family well. Academically, if he had been documented, he would have qualified for college scholarships per his counselors. Instead, he took a private loan of $40,000 to attend college, which he pays $500 monthly to pay off this loan. He cannot qualify for any benefits from the government, and that includes student loans.

His family works in a relative’s restaurant making a living and they own a home. He works in TX, and is studying to earn tech certificates to further his career. Even though he pays into social security and medicaid, he is not allowed these or any other government benefits upon retirement. What are his goals in life? To pay off his private loan and his parent’s house.

He also pays $1000 every 2 years for a work permit that was suspended during Trump’s presidency. With the Biden administration, this was reinstated, and he was able to keep his job and stay in the US. When I remarked we probably will have a conservative president in 2 years, he affirmed he understood this.

I was trying to give him hope and stated with his education, he could work in his industry and make a good living in a modern Mexican city. He simply replied, ‘I don’t want to go back!’ Ofcourse, noone wants nor should be forced to live where they don’t want to live. He told me he did not qualify for a green card, and even if he married a citizen, they would initiate the process by inviting him to get a green card once they were married. A US educated, employed person with a work permit who pays our taxes and cannot get a green card. How does this make sense?

I still wanted to give him hope, so I told him he had a good plan and would accomplish his goals. How could I say this to him? Look at the resilience in his life…my goodness. He is determined to work and continue to upskill for his career. How many Americans do you know personally who have goals to pay off debt and their parent’s home?

I find myself praying for him and I believe God hears and answers my prayers. I just wanted to share this story to give perspective. Every individual has a story that needs to be seen and heard. Grouping people in a stereotype is never fair to anyone, and if it hasn’t happened to you yet…keep living.

Experiencing being treated like a bigot because I believe Jesus is the only way to God, has been horrible for me throughout my career. There were work environments where I had not said anything about my faith. Co-workers and managers saw my resume of where I went to school and made assumptions due to stereotypes. They treated me accordingly and it made for some hostile work environments.

I am currently in a diverse group of women of whom 2 have stated that they don’t want immigrants in the group, nor to receive our scholarship, even for legal residents. They state only US citizens should qualify for the college scholarship. How offensive to hear how closed minded they are.

As I explore Mexico for retirement, others flee. What makes the difference, is I have immense privilege and choice to go back and forth as I please. This is something I am humbled by and do not take for granted. I sit and think, what can I do? Now I’ve given his story a safe space to be heard with hope that someone’s perspective will shift to understand people better....immigrants better. We all have the same desires in life. We all want a home, work, food, family, & safety. No one is better than another. I hope minds open to understand one another better.

Thanks for reading and hearing his story!

Alexia