Immigrants in this country are facing the worst circumstances right now. Under the Trump administration, everyday families worry about their lives. This goes especially for my interview subject.
I interviewed a student at the University of Central Florida. She will be remaining anonymous. She came to the United States from Peru at the age of three. She has permanent residency and is applying for her citizenship.
1. What made your family move to America?
My mom and dad decided to move to America because there was a lot of terrorism in Peru and they didn't want me to grow up in that. So I moved here when I was three and they gave up a lot. My dad worked at an industrial engineer factory and was his own boss. My mom was a banker at one of the most prestigious banks and was very high up. When they moved to America, they didn't have anything.
They had to clean banks instead of working them. It was hard and they had to get friends to watch me at night while they worked. It was very difficult for them. They mainly came here so that I could get a better education because it was always their dream that I could study here and get an American education and get my degree from here because you have so many opportunities
2. What was it like when you got to the United States?
Photo by Paul Weaver on Unsplash
It was different. It was really hard for my parents to adjust. I was still kind of young so I didn't really understand everything, but I knew it was hard. It was difficult for my parents especially because they had to learn a language. My dad came to the U.S. three months before my mom and I so he could find a job and get a house for us so we'd have somewhere to live. It was different and difficult for my parents to learn everything when we arrived.
3. What has it been like growing up in the United States?
Photo by Matteo Paganelli on UnsplashPhoto by Matteo Paganelli on Unsplash
So growing up here, being from a different country, was difficult at first. The kids would make fun of me for my different lunches. In public when I was with my family, we would get weird looks for speaking Spanish in stores. There were definitely times when I felt ashamed and embarrassed for not being a part of a typical American family. But as I grew up, I learned that it's actually really cool to be from Peru and I'm super proud to be from there and I love it. You grow up and learn that it's okay to be from where you are.
4. What are some of your fears when it comes to your parents?
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Because my parents legal status is still pending, I fear that they could be pulled over which could lead to deportation. Another big thing I fear, if my mom is out somewhere and someone disrespects her like some of the videos you see on the internet of citizens yelling at employees from other countries for speaking another language or if they mess up and someone blaming it on their ethnicity.
5. How do your parents feel about you being a student at The University of Central Florida?
My parents are very happy. When I got accepted into UCF, my dad almost cried. They were proud because it was my top choice. They were very happy. They are also very thankful because I get to get my degree at UCF.
6. What do you like about UCF and what are some of the things they can offer you, an immigrant student?
I like how diverse UCF is. Not specifically for me, but I think it's very important how they include DACA recipients and accept Dreamers. What I think is very cool about UCF is that they are trying to implicate free immigration lawyers, which I think is incredibly important because it can help so many people like myself.
Knight News reported that The University of Central Florida wants to add Immigration Representation to its student's legal services. This is big for the university considering how diverse its population is and how many DACA students attend.
With what's going on in our government, immigration issues are one of the most horrifying of them all. People want to abolish I.C.E. and want trump gone. It's important to have universities such as the University of Central Florida who support students and their families with these type of issues. UCF students and faculty have advocated what they think is right for a long time now! If you care about immigration issues then you must look up your local candidates and vote. If you cannot, then you can volunteer to help in other ways!
