Abused and Forgotten: An Undocumented Story

Hello, my name is Carla and I am undocumented. My parents were young Filipino entrepeneurs when they first met in Spain. They gave birth to both my brothers in Europe. They then decided to fly to the US, while I was already a few months in my mothers' uterus. However, due to some circumstances my parents were denied entrance to the US and were forced to settle in Mexico, where I was born.

Unfortunate for me, my dad went without us to the US leaving my mother and her three children in Mexico. My mother established herself and worked for the Malaysian embassy as an English translator. We were invited to VIP parties for embassadors and those working in the embassy. Once I turned 5-years-old, my dad convinced my mother to bring us to Los Angeles. Since my mother worked for the Malaysian embassy, we were given visas to come to the US. The day we arrived in LA, was the day that changed my life forever.

My father, who is manipulative and abusive, drained my mother's money to the point that we could no longer afford to return to Mexico. Not only was my mother forced to quit her job but we had over-stayed our visas. At the time, the woman who allowed us to rent one of her houses, was willing to help my mother fix our paper work. When my father found out, he moved us to New York where we stayed in a family's house for a few days before settling in New Jersey.

New Jersey became my home. It is where I grew up--made my memories and friends. I excelled academically, winning countless awards for being an honor roll student. By this time, my father left us, once he realized we became a "burden" to him and could not provide him any money. When this occurred, my mother took action in getting a lawyer. Our lawyer filed the VAWA form, however without my father's proof of legal status, it became hard for us.

For several years we waited, little did we know our lawyer moved to a different location and her assistant closed our case without our lawyers consent. (This could have removed the assistant's license.) In 2008, my mother fell in love with her current husband and it was not until my grandmother's medical condition which caused her to over-stay her visa. My mother then, was determined to search again for our lawyer, inorder to help my grandmother. In doing so, this gave an opportunity to also file for our I-130 petition. (Since my mother was remarried to a US citizen) My grandmother was able to fix her paper work and went back to our home country.

I believe the point where I realized how my legal status truly affected my way of living, was when I recieved a scholarship to NJIT (New Jersey Institute of Technology) in Senior year of high school, for my achievements in robotics and was denied because I could not show proof of residency. That letter held my hopes,dreams, and hard work; which was merely thrown away.

Today, I am in Michigan. I dreaded the day moving to Michigan because it meant starting new again. Although it felt like a depressing moment for me, it became a blessing because I met the most wonderful people when I attended the Michigan Dream Camp. Like most young people in my situation, I was ashamed to tell anyone. I felt like an out-cast letting others know about it, because I knew they would not understand what I was going through. Now, I am with people who are supportive and can somewhat relate through the struggles I have endured.

Stay strong! Let the DREAM Act pass already!

Thank you for sharing your story with us and welcome to the forum. I'm glad to see that you haven't given up hope. You didn't mention whether or not you got a chance to get into college. The best thing that we can do while we wait is educate ourselves as much as possible so we'll be prepared once the dream act passes. Feel free to pm me if you feel like you need to talk.

Hey! Thanks

Yeah, I'm in college. Since Jersey doesn't give in-state tuition like some other states do. I had to enroll in my community college.

Good to hear that you're in college. Tuition in the cuny system (4 year colleges) is around $4000-$4500 for out of state students so if you're paying more at the moment my suggestion to you would be to go to school here instead.

Yeah, I heard a lot of dreamies in Jersey doing that, thanks for the suggestion. I dunno, either way I would be considered out of state since I didn't graduate from a NY high school. So, that would kind of defeit the purpose.

What college do you go to? Cuny?

Yup, graduated with a bachelor's in psychology. Now applying to med school which seems kinda impossible at the moment but giving it a shot nonetheless.

That's awesome! So, now that you've graduated what have you been up to? Are you involved with any immigration organizations?

No, I'm just working and volunteering. I feel like I should be but between studying for the mcat and work I don't know if I can manage to squeeze that in. How about you?

Thanks for sharing your story and great to hear that you finished college! =)..Quick question though, where in New Jersey did you live?

Silverayne, volunteering is always the best thing to do. That's what I've been doing as well with the immigration community. Just trying to fill in my days with things to do.

Maelo, I lived in the city part of New Jersey that is less than 15 min away from NYC by train.