Fatima and Antonio
Fatima is 30 years old, graduated from Loyola with a B.A., and now works as a family therapist, counseling families whose children are in juvenile detention. She likes being able to help people. Her husband, Antonio, paints houses for a living. He would like to go back to school, to learn a trade such as an electrician.

Fatima was born in Mexico City, and moved to the U.S. when she was four years old. Fatima’s father passed away when she was two, leaving her mother with three children. Her mother decided that it would be easier for her to raise her children in the U.S. She was able to obtain visas, and they came to the US on an airplane. Eventually, the whole family obtained citizenship.

Antonio was born in Michoacan, Mexico, in a small town. His father, an agricultural worker, was attacked by a bull when Antonio was thirteen. This accident left him an invalid and Antonio and his brother left school to go to Mexico City to work. They found work in a car wash and stayed there for six years. When Antonio was in Mexico City, a woman from his town in Michoacan asked him to accompany her to cross over to the U.S.  When Antonio arrived in Chicago, he spent several months working as a day laborer until he found a more stable job as a painter. He has been in that job now for four years, working seven days a week.

Not too long after Antonio found his current job, he met Fatima.  Neither of them went out much, but by chance, they met when they were both out dancing. They exchanged numbers and became friends and then began dating. Eventually they moved in together and got married. When I spoke with them in May 2008, they had a two and a half year old son.

Fatima and Antonio came to Latinos Progresando to see if there was anything they could do to legalize Antonio’s status. Antonio has been living here illegally since he crossed the border in 2003. Fatima said she was constantly stressed out.  She often worries about Antonio. When he goes to work, she has to worry about whether or not there will be a raid, or if he will be stopped on his way to work. This stress is clearly wearing on her, as her voice broke and her eyes welled up with tears as she talked to me.

Tears began to fall profusely as Fatima told me that it hurts her deeply that Antonio wants to see his parents and his parents want to see him, but he can’t go back to Mexico.  Fatima even feels as if it is partly her fault that Antonio can’t see his parents. “Sometimes, I feel like it is a little my fault. Maybe, if you hadn’t met me, nothing would keep you here.”

When their son was born, Fatima became ill. She continues to suffer from an immune disorder and admitted that she worries that she may not survive her next hospitalization. Her voice broke as she told me that she wishes she could be sure that her son would be okay if the unthinkable were to happen -- if she were to pass away. This is one of their most pressing reasons to obtain legalization for Antonio.

Antonio said he wishes he could visit his parents. He pointed out that he could easily go to Mexico. But, he is not willing to risk being unable to return, since his wife and son are here and he does not want to leave them alone. They also are aware that if Antonio goes back to Mexico, this further complicates their options for legalization. Therefore, it is not a risk they are willing to take, even though it saddens him that he can’t visit his parents.

Fatima pointed out that the laws do not just affect Antonio, who is here illegally, but they also deeply affect her and her son, both of whom are U.S. citizens. As a family therapist, Fatima is well aware of the pernicious effects of family separation on children. She asked why the government would want to separate families when we are well aware of the consequences of family separation. In her work, she has to counsel children who have turned to juvenile delinquency, in part because their parents are divorced. Tears welled up again in Fatima’s eyes when she asked if they, too, are not humans. The importance of this family remaining together brought tears to my eyes as well.