Aldair Mata is a shining example of the inherent issues within the United States immigration system. Having immigrated from Mexico in 1993, he tussled his way through countless restaurant jobs, grasping the English language on his own accord and eventually gaining U.S. citizenship. Surprisingly, despite his quite laborious journey, he contributed toward increasing the nation’s population by giving birth to nine children, one of who managed to make it to Stanford, although the specifics of this achievement are not entirely known.
The narrative further sings the tale of Mata and a fellow immigrant, who abruptly found shelter on a freezing Chicago night in a local taqueria, where we had arranged to meet. Their discretion underlying their current lifestyle was quite evident; like many undocumented immigrants in the United States, they’ve sought refuge in obscurity, rarely venturing outside their homes.
49-year-old Mata, the elder of the two, is a robust, jubilant individual, who showcases a temerous personality juxtaposed with an infectious laughter. Having stepped foot on American soil in 1993, his professional life has been marked by varying roles within the restaurant industry. It’s rather surprising the man found time to father nine children, while self-educating himself in English and navigating the convoluted path to U.S. citizenship, amidst all of his laborious shifts.
His companion for the night, Jose, comparatively younger and less ‘Americanised’, has requested anonymity considering his undocumented status in the nation. Jose’s transition was fairly recent, crossing the border 10 years ago with his wife and infant child. Astonishingly, he hasn’t shown much progression since his arrival, lacking fluency in English and any legal working documentation, only managing to forge a barebone existence.
Nevertheless, Jose and his wife managed to find employment, enrol their first child in school and welcome another into their lives – the only legitimate U.S. citizen in their family. However, their existence has been shrouded by a constant undercurrent of fear, induced by the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on deportations, casting a grim shadow over their undocumented lives.
The escalating environment of fear has rendered Jose, and many like him, virtually inactive and increasingly fearful. Despite financial constraints dictating otherwise, Jose is forced to carry on with his work in a wood-finishing factory. The chilling effect trickles down to his family as well, with his wife too scared to pursue her factory job, and their child consequently being kept out of school. The fear of detection takes precedence above all.
Coming to the meeting at the restaurant, Jose was noticeably on the edge, his demeanor reflecting his anxiety, as his hawk-eyed gaze never lost focus of the street outside, constantly anticipating unwanted consequences. Meanwhile, Mata decided to enlighten Jose on the recent happenstances doing the rounds on Spanish news outlets.
A couple of viral news clips were showcased on Mata’s phone, showcasing the dire state of affairs – ICE agents employing tear gas to coerce a Texas family into compliance for their captivity and plainclothes federal agents in Tennessee, herding food-truck employees without any apparent legal grounds of detainment. The two watched these clips, their faces mirroring the grim reality of their existence.
Jose, overwhelmed by the grim terminations of these incidents, resignedly remarked, ‘They can do whatever they want.’ It’s apparent that living as an illegal immigrant in the U.S. under the Trump administration is an experience cloaked in a constant dread of the unforeseen. The fear of deportation and separation from family permeates every aspect of their lives, blatantly pouring scorn over their human rights.
Their narrative brings to light the stark reality of illegal immigration under the Trump administration. It demonstrates the labyrinth of struggles they navigate daily in the face of ever-present deportation threats. A life clouded by fear, constantly looking over one’s shoulder, is not a life that any individual should endure.
Regardless of the practicality of their decisions, it’s undeniable that these individuals are clinging onto the slender threads of hope, battling against a system that continually marginalizes and vilifies them. The fear and anxiety evoked by the shadow of deportation, threaten basic human values of dignity and respect.
The government, under the impetuous direction of President Trump, seems blind to these plights. Its rhetoric and policy actions echo a clear message of unwelcomeness towards illegal immigrants, potentially sending productive employees like Mata and devoted fathers like Jose into obscurity.
The narrative of Aldair Mata and Jose provides a timely reminder of how the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies instill fear and uncertainty in law-abiding, hardworking individuals. An atmosphere of fear and intimidation stifles the potential of these immigrants, reflecting the administration’s indifference towards the human aspect of immigration.
It’s time to reconsider such a broken system that often forgets the human faces behind the so-called ‘illegal’ status. The story of Mata and Jose sheds light on the pressing question – shouldn’t the system value contributions over legalities?