by Saul Estrada
Many undocumented immigrants have experienced discrimination. Some people say that they should “go back to Mexico” and call them “wetbacks,” and other offensive comments. This discrimination impacts people in different ways. For Mario, my uncle, it made him feel like he didn't belong in the USA.
Mario was hard working as a child. He had no education and barely knew how to read. In Mexico, he spent most of his time working in the fields to help his parents pay bills.
At the age of 17, he decided to move to the U.S. to get a better paying job. Soon after, he realised that finding a good job with his illegal status was hard and he was barely getting paid minimum wage.
He quit his job to attend school and try to learn english, so then he could get a better paying job. He started experiencing discrimination at school when one of the teachers isolated him by making him sit alone because of his race.
Then, discrimination got worse as the kids started calling him wetback and beaner. When experiencing this, Marco said “It started feeling like I left everything in Mexico for nothing” .
Mario was hard working as a child. He had no education and barely knew how to read. In Mexico, he spent most of his time working in the fields to help his parents pay bills.
At the age of 17, he decided to move to the U.S. to get a better paying job. Soon after, he realised that finding a good job with his illegal status was hard and he was barely getting paid minimum wage.
He quit his job to attend school and try to learn english, so then he could get a better paying job. He started experiencing discrimination at school when one of the teachers isolated him by making him sit alone because of his race.
Then, discrimination got worse as the kids started calling him wetback and beaner. When experiencing this, Marco said “It started feeling like I left everything in Mexico for nothing” .
When he got older, he got a job picking cherries and strawberries. Yet, his boss didn't want to give him minimum wage because he had no papers.
After 10 years of harsh work in construction and in fields, he was finally able to work for a better paying company. “All the hard work paid off,” Mario states.
Now Mario is able to feed a family of 5 with no problem and he doesn’t struggle as much as he did before since he started getting paid more than minimum wage.
Since last November, hate crimes against undocumented immigrants have been on the rise, many due to Donald Trump's comments in speeches that many find racist. In one of Trump's rallies, he made comments about how Mexico sends their ‘criminals’ and ‘rapists’ to the US. He also stated comments on deporting as many undocumented immigrants as possible.
These statements are affecting many undocumented people because they’re afraid to be out in public, it's a risk, and that's one thing my uncle has to live with. In fear of getting deported and having to leave his kids in the US.
After 10 years of harsh work in construction and in fields, he was finally able to work for a better paying company. “All the hard work paid off,” Mario states.
Now Mario is able to feed a family of 5 with no problem and he doesn’t struggle as much as he did before since he started getting paid more than minimum wage.
Since last November, hate crimes against undocumented immigrants have been on the rise, many due to Donald Trump's comments in speeches that many find racist. In one of Trump's rallies, he made comments about how Mexico sends their ‘criminals’ and ‘rapists’ to the US. He also stated comments on deporting as many undocumented immigrants as possible.
These statements are affecting many undocumented people because they’re afraid to be out in public, it's a risk, and that's one thing my uncle has to live with. In fear of getting deported and having to leave his kids in the US.