America was indebted to immigration for her settlement and prosperity. That part of America which had encouraged them most had advanced most rapidly in population, agriculture and the arts.

- President James Madison

Real Immigrant Stories

The people below are not alone. Our broken immigration system affect tens of millions of lives every year. Too often, their stories go untold, please read what they have to say. Do you have an immigration story that you would like to tell? Click here to share your story.

Carlos Ruben Macias - Las Lomas, Mexico

Hello my name is Carlos Ruben Macias Ordonen'ez. I am 25 years old and this is my story. I was born in the city of Monterrey in the state of Nuevo Leon in Mexico. My parents took me to the US illegaly when I was 7 years old. From the age of 7 to 17 I had an every day life of a kid in the US, going to school, learning and just being part of my community. When I was 17 years old I made some wrong choices with someone who at the time I thought was a friend of mine. I got in trouble with the law and did 1 yr in jail. After that I was deported to Mexico with both of my parents in 2003. It has now been almost 6 years and I married my high school sweetheart who moved to Mexico to be able to be with me and have the happily ever after life that we were supposed to have. I have an 8 month old son that was born in Mexico and is a US citizen because of her mother, but we are here because of me. We have been living in Mexico for about 4 years now and we would do anything to try to be able to restart our life in the US with our son, but we have no idea where to start. We both have ''good jobs'' in Mexico, have bought a home and are working for a US company in Mexico.

In the city of Monterrey just a couple of weeks ago there was a shootout between the military and drug lords who have taken over an area about 2 miles down the road from where we live. Also, we get constantly harassed by city transits because we have a car from Arkansas, in an attempt to get money from us. Thank you for reading.

Melanie Caruso - Artesia, California

My husband was taken into the custody of ICE in December 2008 and was in jail for almost 2 months before being deported to Argentina. He came here legally in 1994 and was misrepresented in court and ordered deported. He did not leave but instead started a case with a new lawyer to try to undo what the first lawyer did. We met in 2004 and we have two children together that are now 3 and 4 years old. They scream out in the night for their father. My husband has doesn't have a criminal record, he paid taxes, he had health , dental and life insurance. He had a wonderful job. We lost our first home that we purchased, our jobs, our cars...everything. My children and I moved to Argentina but the poverty was so great that my husband unselfishly sent us back to live with my family. He has a 10-year bar and we are trying to get that waived. Please help us by signing the petition. Please help us. Thank you. I ask you to please visit our website: www.bringmarcelobackhome.moogo.com as we are trying to get petitions signed.

Brenda Gamez - Inglewood, California

As a an outreach counselor for a local university in Orange County California, I see so many students have their dreams crushed when they get to senior year of high school. Some I see even earlier, Students who know that they do not have a bright future without legal status. Students stop taking school seriously as early as 7 or 8th grade. They know that they will end up looking for jobs when they get older but will not be able to legally obtain one. These are students that have been born and raised here in the United States or their entire life. This is the place they call home. They are just as American as the kid sitting next to them in class. Why is it that we have to limit their potential just because they were born on the wrong side of the border. I was once one of those students, luckily I had an opportunity to take advantage of an immigration reform law. This allowed me to become the productive individual I am today As an outreach counselor pursuing a Master's degree in Higher Education. I do everything in my power to help undocumented and documented students gain access higher education, but it is sometimes sad to hear and see that these students are being held back by political views.

Leonardo Toledo - Floral Park, NY

My story is one part of this vast mosaic of families being torn apart by current immigration laws.

It reads as follows:

"THIS BLOG IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY TOGETHER AND START A DISCUSSION ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM. FOR 19 YEARS OF MY ADULT LIFE I LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY. I HAVE TWO AMERICAN BORN SONS 18 AND 17 YEARS OLD. I WAS RECENTLY DEPORTED. MY BRAZILIAN WIFE IS ALSO FACING THE SAME IMMIGRATION PROCEDURE AS I HAD...I AM TRYING TO PUT A GOOD FACE NOT JUST ON WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY BY ON WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING AS ILLEGAL ALIEN FAMILY. I AM ATTEMPTING TO RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS BEING HAPPENING ACROSS THIS GREAT NATION.

THE DEPORTATION PROCESS WAS SOMETHING I NEVER ANTICIPATED. THE WORST IS THE WAY YOU FEEL, BEING RIPPED APART FROM YOUR FAMILY AND ORDINARY LIFE... LIFE HAS LOST ITS MEANING... MY FAMILY IS NOT ALONE. A LOT AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE BEING TORN APART. WE NEED IMMIGRATION REFORM THE RIGHT WAY, WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS VOTING FOR IT...

MY HOPE IS TO BE ALLOWED BACK IN THE US, TO RESUME MY LIFE WITH MY FAMILY, TO PAY MY TAXES, MY BILLS, TO BE ABLE TO SEE MY SON'S GRADUATIONS FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. LIKE A DREAM, THAT SEEMS TO BE FAR FETCHED FROM WHERE I AM NOW, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE..."

I have it posted on my Blog: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/leonardotoledo/gGx2Hd

Kristina Arredondo

My husband I have been together for a long time. We have three children whom are 1,4 and 7. On March 06,2008 my husband got deported. ICE came into our home and took him right in front of our kids. They took him like a piece of trash. They took my husband away from me. They took a father away from his children. How
could they be so cruel? I don't understand.

I saw my husband February of this year. It is sad how Mexico has no running water. It is sad to see people live the way they do. My kids and I enjoyed it because we got to see him but only stayed a month and had to come back. It was hard. I pray he gets to come home but I do not know because it has been a year already..... It's hard raising three kids on my own.

Tatsiana D. - Alhambra, California

Hello! My name is Tatsiana and I would like to share my story. I came in US 9 years ago from Belarus on K-1 (fiancée) visa. The petitioner of a visa was a US citizen from Afghanistan, who I dated for over 2 years in my country (I met him thru my friends). He said that people here are able to get married by signing and mailing in an application. I spoke no English and had no idea what he gave me to sign. A few months went by, and a Marriage Certificate never came in the mail.

Because I spoke no English, Fareed found me a job a cross the street at the car
wash. I was a car washer went to learn English after work. When my Work Authorization was expired, I asked him to renew it. Instead, he brought me a fake EAD. I also found out from his tax report that he was single.

He slept only 2-3 times a week in our home. I was experiencing all forms of violence you could only imagine. I learned not to ask him any questions.

After about 1.5 years I got a "U" Interim Relief Deferred Action and was able to work and get a drivers license. Later I met the man that I would soon marry. My attorney told me that I could get permanent residency thru a "U" visa, but marriage would be faster. So we got marry. Since we applied for an adjustment of status every thing was denied (appeals, motions to reconsider)(except I-130), because I didn't marry my original petitioner with in 90 days. I did my own research and found out that Deferred Action is not a status. Because the government delayed to issue regulations for "U" visa for 7 years, I was not supposed to be able to file for an adjustment of status. I could only extend Deferred Action every year. In all I have spent about $ 20,000 in immigration and lawyer fees (every thing that I have made here since I came).

Currently I'm in a deportation proceeding. My husband and I don't know what is going to happen. We are also expecting a baby in about 2 weeks. In a little more than a year ago I applied for an actual "U" visa. But I have very little hope that I will get it. I'm sure they are many people like me, who came here ILEGALLY but became victims of violence and fraud. There is no law for these type of situations. Our family is facing separation and my husband doesn't speak Russian. Who will accept us if we do immigrate?

Thank you for letting me share my story.

Aurora Gonzalez - San Antonio, TX

I am a American citizen and married to Mexican for 10 years now. We have two children, ages 9 and 6, born and raised in the U.S., and one on the way. I am a military veteran and love my country!! I filed for my husband in 1999. The I-129 and I-130 were both approved but he was not able to obtain an affidavit of support so we stopped the process. In 2001 my husband was stopped by the police and was voluntary deported. After he was deported I could not obtain any records thru immigration on his deportation and after years of looking for records I re-filed and again everything was approved. In 2008 my husband was sent a letter to go to Cuidad Juarez and apply for a K-3 Visa. However, once there he was given a 10-year ban. We have spent over $8,000 dollars in lawyer fees and travel. I don't think it is fair for and my children and I to have to have to move to Mexico and completely change our lifestyles in order for our family not to be broken up! It is not right that after I serving my country, my country will not accept my husband. Many people with felonies are getting waivers. Those that are here are just trying to support their families but are treated like criminals and not able to get any help! I am selling everything we own and moving my family to Monterrey N.l to be with the love of my life. I just hope that we can adjust to a different lifestyle. I pray that President Obama will realize the damage that this 3/10 year bar is causing for many families!!

Citizen's Wife Deported

I am a U.S.-born citizen. ... My family has fallen victim to deportation hearings. ... My wife has lived here illegally for 9 years but has never broken any laws and she pays taxes. ... Our lawyer says we don't qualify for any relief from removal. My wife has 120 days from the hearing to depart the U.S. if we take the voluntary departure.

How is a husband suppossed to willingly agree to a ten year separation from his wife? How are our children supposed to grow up without their mother? We have a seven year old son named Jhan and a three month old daughter named Shakira.

We need an immediate moratorium on all deportations that separate families. We need an immediate cancellation of all deportations that separate families until comprehensive immigration reform can be passed by Congress. ... Read More

High School Sophomore - Chicago

I am a sophomore in high school. You know how bad it feels to know that I have no future in this country? I have good grades in school. I have A’s B’s and my GPA is 3.5, which is not bad. ... No one deserves to be deported, taken away from their families. As an immigrant, I would like to speak out for each and every single one of us! ... Read More

Anonymous - Washington, DC

How many hoops do we have to jump through? You don't know in how many ways you can fail to stay legal in the US nowadays until you take a look at how many hoops I have jumped through and still failed to keep a legal status in the end... Read More

Marc Brands - Wheeling, WV

...During my career at Carnegie Mellon University I decided I should apply for permanent residency...Only at that point I realized enormous bureaucratic hurdles that had to be cleared.

....As got off the plane in Phoenix I received the news that the DOS revoked their initial July posting and made all immigrant visas unavailable and that the USICS would reject any applicant's application...I was devastated, angry and almost in tears. The DOS incorrectly estimated the demand of immigrant visas and thus had published this unprecedented movement in the July Visa Bulletin but then revoked their decision.

...My situation is just one story of millions, literally. I can not think of any immigrant that I know personally that does not have some sort of horror story of their own... Read more

Anonymous - Eden Prairie, MN

...Then after one week I just calculated how much money and effort I had spent for last 2 to 3 weeks.

Lawyer fees to file AOS, EAD and AP for myself and my wife - $3600
Medical Exam - $375
Photo - $90
Fedex Air Express - $90 (3 times we have to send the details to lawyer)
Copier and other services - $20
I took off on 2 days - 16 hrs of work(16*45) - 720
Taxi(my wife has to travel to get some of the paper work) - $175
USCIS filing fee - $1300 (which they may or may not return)

So a total of $6280 which I had spent for this because of this July visa bulletin...

Anonymous - Anaheim, CA

My parents came to the U.S. illegally to pay off their debts in our country. They divorced and my mom married an American three years ago. He helped me to to support paperwork to U.S as an international student and my mom sponsored my green card. I got approved, but have to wait for at least eight years to get one! I have been here for three years now. I am living with my father who has no way how to obtain legal documentation. We have to lie on daily basis to be able to support ourselves, earn some money, and pay for my nonresident tuition...

Anthony & Vanessa Mansfield - Davenport, FL

We sent our applications for AOS on July 2nd and the applications arrived the following morning. We had no idea about the revised bulletin until several days later! We have been on J1 visas (not subject to HRR) since August 2004 and they expire on Sep 9. We tried for H1B but the cap was met on the 1st day. We are high school math teachers and make a significant difference to the lives of the students we teach. When the July bulletin was released in June we dismissed other visa options as we believed we were able to file AOS...

Anonymous - Washington, DC

I came in the US as a minor with my mother. I graduated in the top 10 of my class and was offered full scholarship to the top schools but I couldn't go because of my status. I am now married to an Army soldier. We've been married for 3 years and have a child together but I'm still in deportation. I support my husband 100% and I love this country. My son is US citizen and there's no way his father is letting me take him to Africa. I want to be able to go to college and give my son a chance in this country as well.

Aaron Yaw - Maybelvale, AR

My name is Aaron Yaw and I am writing to you in regards of the immigration bill that is in congress and about my family. I am a United States citizen by birth, my wife is a Mexican citizen, two of our kids are United States citizen’s by birth, and our new born is a Mexican citizen by birth. My family is currently going through the immigration process and we have been for three and a half years now. I have been separated from my wife and children for one year and two months now... Read More

Luciana Botello - Phoenix, AZ

My story is simply this one, just because im not a citizen or resident i did not have a chance to get a scholarship that i was offer for college. I was really disappointed because i work and studied just as hard as a resident or a student that was born here. It's not fair that just because i was not born here takes my chances of getting the same chances.

Anonymous - Buford, GA

I am a U.S. citizen. My stepson, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, has just completed high school with a 3.0 average. He wants to attend college... Read More

Anonymous - Florida

I have been sponsored by my US Citizen Sister in 2001, and I have to wait 12!!! Years to get my visa... Read More

Anonymous - Georgia

My husband came to America almost twenty years ago as an 18 year old with the idea he would make more than enough money to send home to take care of his ailing mother and his older sister... Read More

Anonymous - Nevada

My husband was deported 5 years ago... Read More

Anonymous - New Hampshire

I am illegal here ( overstays ). I had college diploma from Sydney, Australia. First time I came here just for holiday, but I met friends and one of them I married... Read More

Anonymous - Ohio

Hi am a 19 year old female who is in the U.S. illegally. I have been here for 14 years, I was brought here by my aunt... Read More

Maria - Phoenix, AZ

My mom met my dad here in the United States, they lived together for a while, then my mom got pregnant with me... Read More

Anonymous

At my wedding I made a promise to my husband, before God, our priest and the entirety of our family and friends, declaring that the only force strong enough to separate us would be death. It is now six months later, and I have learned that even Death is no match for the U.S. immigration system.... Read More

Melany Hansen - Oakton, VA

I have 4 children, two of which are adopted from Guatemala. I was introduced to a young woman and I'd like to share her story with you and ask for your advice to her...Read More

Kavi - San Jose, CA

The Immigration system is so broken here - that people like my husband, who is still on an H1-B visa after 8 years of having worked in the United States, spend tens of thousands of dollars trying to obtain a Green card and then several H1-B extensions... Read More

Kanwaldeep Arneja - North Billerica, MA

I came to US in 2003. I have struggled, worked my way up in the company, played by the rules and have given my best to assimilate in this country. Out of many countries I could immigrate to, I chose US for many reasons. But the top reason was its warmth towards immigrants and its genuine promise that if you work hard, there are opportunities and then no limits... Read More

Anonymous

...Mrs. K who has no criminal history, remains in Romania to this day with the couple's young daughter separated from Mr. K and her son. The couple has no recourse for bringing Mrs. K to the United States to rejoin her husband and son... Read More