Pablo and Maia
Pablo and Maia are an attractive couple – the kind that elicits smiles on the streets. Pablo is soft-spoken and careful with his words. Maia has passion for what she does and what she believes in. They both spoke lovingly of Maia’s son, Dante, who is ten years old. Pablo has been a father figure for him since he was two. Both are very proud of Dante’s accomplishments: his place on the honor roll, his skill at playing the violin and the drum, and his feats on the soccer field.

Maia will be thirty this year, is in graduate school, and works as a case manager for high-risk pregnant mothers. Her favorite aspect of her job is that she can help out women who faced the difficulties she encountered as a young single mother. Maia was born in Holland, Michigan, where her parents worked in the local factories. Maia’s great-grandfather was one of the first black settlers there and set up a station on the underground railroad in Holland.

Pablo is the same age as Maia. He grew up in Mexico City with his mother and three siblings. Pablo and Maia now both live in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Pablo works as a supervisor at a construction supply company. He dreams about going back to school and becoming an immigration lawyer to help people out who find themselves in situations similar to his own, as an undocumented Mexican. Pablo finished high school in Mexico, but has not been able to further his education here.

As a cook in a restaurant in Mexico City, Pablo’s mother struggled with her wages to raise three children. Once her children were finished with school, she decided to come to the U.S. to save up enough money to open her own restaurant.  In 1998, when Pablo was twenty years old, he, his sister, and his mother entered the U.S. illegally at the border near San Diego. Pablo planned to stay for two years.

Pablo didn’t like it in California. He had to work hard and did not speak English. After moving to Michigan in 2000, and being in the U.S. for ten years, he has grown accustomed to life here and does not wish to return to Mexico. He likes the opportunities the U.S. has to offer and he likes where he lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In addition, he plans to marry Maia.

Maia and Pablo met at one of the few salsa clubs in Kalamazoo. Pablo asked Maia to dance, and they danced a few numbers together. They didn’t exchange information at first, but a month or so later, they saw each other again. This time, Pablo asked Maia for her number and she gave it to him. That was in 2000, and eight years later, they are still together.

The current immigration laws have negative effects on their daily life and on their long-term plans. Pablo told me that they have recently passed a law in Michigan that prevents him from getting a license, as he does not have a valid social security number. The license he now has will expire in one year. He is aware that he could be detained and deported, and does not like living with the fear that this could happen at any time. Pablo wants to go back to school. Pablo helped Maia get through school by taking care of Dante, and she wishes she could do the same for him.

They also told me that they can’t get married, since a law was recently passed in Michigan that requires a social security number in order to obtain a marriage license.  If they do get married, the current law stipulates that Pablo will have to go to Mexico for at least ten years, as he has lived here illegally for over a year. In addition, Pablo would likely be permanently barred from entering the U.S., since he has entered illegally more than once. Under the current laws, they are not allowed to live here in the U.S. together.

Maia connected the plight of immigrants to the history of African-Americans:
It is like time repeating itself all over again. You know, it’s okay to be in the kitchen, but it’s not okay to come out of it. … the United States hasn’t done a lot of things right, … and it’s time for us to change that. We learned from 9/11 that people are mad at us because of things we are doing. It is time for us to treat people better.