Get E-Mail Updates

God's Politics Blog

'My Prayers Were Heard'

by Juan Daniel Espitia 03-18-2010 | 2:30pm
Print
8 Comments | Login or Register to post comments

banner-voices-of-immigration

Related Reading

Take Action on This Issue

Tell the Senate: Don't Cut International Aid

Please join us in telling the Senate: Protect foreign aid programs that help the poor and the needy. 

An immigrant woman's testimony, as told to Juan Daniel Espitia, a pastor in Solana Beach, California.

I come from a large city in the northwest of Mexico; there were six of us children. When one of my brothers became involved with drugs, he started selling a lot of our possessions and even the house to pay for his addiction. During the same time my father, who was an alcoholic, got very sick. Even though I had already finished nursing studies at university, a friend of mine suggested to my mother that they should let me come and work in the United States. The idea was that I would be able to work for a short time and save up enough money to help my family and then return to Mexico.

During the trip up north, we had to spend a few weeks in hotels just to wait for the best time to cross the border. When we were finally able to come across, we found our way to a citrus farm where one of our friends had a contact. We had nowhere to live, so we just ended up sleeping under the trees and using cardboard as beds. Since we had no money yet, we had to eat anything we could find -- mainly oranges and anything people gave us. We were eventually able to move into a nearby trailer on the farm.

The foreman asked me to work for them by cooking every day. I remember one night he came to my trailer very drunk and then raped me. He told me that since he had allowed me to live in the trailer and had given me a job, he could do whatever he wanted with me. He continued to rape me many times after that. It was the most terrible experience in my entire life. I felt alone, dirty, ashamed, and trapped. Then one day immigration officials came to the farm and we were all deported back.

After returning to Mexico, I had no money or possessions and realized that I was two months pregnant. I was able to reach my friend who had originally helped me and she was able to help me cross over to the United States again. At one point during the trip I had to jump over a very high fence, and even though I was concerned about my losing my child, I thought that perhaps it would be for the best. I thought that if this baby died, it wouldn't have to suffer as much as I had. I was able to find work again after crossing the border, yet despite that I was extremely sad and depressed and would cry every day for hours.

It was then that I decided to end my life. I didn't want to suffer anymore and didn't want the baby to live like I had. There was no reason to live. So I went to a bridge over a freeway and was getting ready to jump when I felt this strong and powerful wing pushing me back. I then woke up and realized what I was doing and stopped. I went to a church where they provided me with support, and I was able to have my baby.

Life was still hard, as my baby was very sick for the first two years of her life. She was always in the hospital with all different types of illnesses. Under those circumstances, I prayed to the Lord and I asked, "Please just take her, since she is suffering so badly." My prayers were heard because that night was a turning point where her health became better and better. I love her so much and she is the most powerful thing in my life.

At this point I was focused on getting a good job, although it was hard since I didn't speak English. But I have been working hard to improve my situation and feel like I can give a better life to my child. Financially I need to work quite a lot but we are stable. What does frustrate me is that I constantly feel like I have to live in the shadows unknown, because I'm still scared that I will be caught and sent back to Mexico. I do wish the best for my family and for America. I only want my children to have an education and for them to work in a safe and honest environment. And I wish for us all to continue holding on to God and the Bible because that is the only thing that has kept on encouraging and helping me.

+ Show your support for just and humane immigration reform by signing the CCIR Statement.

This account is taken from Voices of Immigration, a campaign of Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR) aimed at highlighting the stories of immigrants in our country. Believing that every person is made in the image of God, we seek to restore the human element to the conversation around immigration reform. Each day this week a new story will be highlighted on God's Politics, with additional ones posted throughout March at CCIR's Web site: www.faithandimmigration.org.

8 Comments | Login or Register to post comments
Sojourners relies on the support of readers like you to sustain our message and ministry.

Related Stories

Resources

Like what you're reading? Get Sojourners E-Mail updates!

by: pcnot4me

03-18-2010 @ 4:02pm

Another story of someone desperately wanting and needing to come to our great nation of prosperity built on opportunity and liberty. This very sad story is an illustration of why we need to protect our liberties and opportunties.

It also illustrates why it is important to spread freedom and opportunity around the world. Everyone can't come here. But we can encourage other nations to use our model. I pray we don't get away from our model like so many on the left are pushing for.

by: Ngchen

03-19-2010 @ 2:35pm

I wholeheartedly agree that the rapists need to be punished by the law. And I agree that there are problems. I can easily see how forcing immigrants (legal or not) to hide in the shadows easily perpetuates said abuses.

In terms of immigrating when one has job skills in demand (and a documented shortage) IIRC it's much easier than for the "typical" immigrant. In fact, I know as a scientist that one of the main perks of working in science is the relative ease of getting visas all over the world; since one's skills are so specialized, if (a big if) an employer in country X needs one's skills, chances are there is no domestic person with the same skills.

Of course nurses aren't in that category, but I would imagine that there are various "fast track" procedures for those wishing to immigrate based on the special skills in demand.

by: storm8326

03-19-2010 @ 1:36am

Ngchen,

You have some good questions in response to the story. (1) I don't know the complete job situation in Mexico but obviously the situation had to be bad enough that she chose to come to the US to work. But what I do know is that trade agreements between the US and Mexico allow the US to import cheap goods there and many locals lose their businesses because people buy our things instead of things locally made. And these trade agreements also allow the US to place their sweatshops in Mexico and other countries in Central America where there are underage workers and many types of abuses. People are trying to run a way from the abuses in their countries and have a hope for a better life (the American Dream) that most US citizens are living.
For some information on US sweatshops check this out: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/sweatsh...

(2) It takes a very long time (up to several years) and a lot of money (thousands of dollars) to apply for a visa to emigrate to the US. When you are in a desperate situation you can not wait that long or get such a large amount of money in a short time. I encourage you to look at this website to find out what the requirements are for foreigners to get a visa to the US. http://travel.state.gov/sweatshopsfaq.html

I have some questions too that I feel are unanswered. Do we care that this woman and her mother had to sleep under orange trees and survive on oranges? Do we care that she was raped multiple times? Do we care that she was depressed and suicidal? Do we care that she is a single parent with little resources?

I commended the church which took her in not caring about her immigration status and showed her the love of God. It is not a crime to try to try to survive.

by: Ngchen

03-18-2010 @ 6:17pm

Interesting story. However, there are two tough questions that were unanswered. (1) Why did the woman not get a nursing job in Mexico? Were they unavailable? (2) Considering how there is an acute nurse shortage in the US, if she wanted to immigrate legally, why couldn't she have done so? (I'm guessing the language barrier is part of it, although probably not all of it since I know people who immigrated with very poor English skills.)

by: storm8326

03-19-2010 @ 1:36am

Ngchen,

You have some good questions in response to the story. (1) I don't know the complete job situation in Mexico but obviously the situation had to be bad enough that she chose to come to the US to work. But what I do know is that trade agreements between the US and Mexico allow the US to import cheap goods there and many locals lose their businesses because people buy our things instead of things locally made. And these trade agreements also allow the US to place their sweatshops in Mexico and other countries in Central America where there are underage workers and many types of abuses. People are trying to run a way from the abuses in their countries and have a hope for a better life (the American Dream) that most US citizens are living.
For some information on US sweatshops check this out: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/sweatsh...

(2) It takes a very long time (up to several years) and a lot of money (thousands of dollars) to apply for a visa to emigrate to the US. When you are in a desperate situation you can not wait that long or get such a large amount of money in a short time. I encourage you to look at this website to find out what the requirements are for foreigners to get a visa to the US. http://travel.state.gov/sweatshopsfaq.html

I have some questions too that I feel are unanswered. Do we care that this woman and her mother had to sleep under orange trees and survive on oranges? Do we care that she was raped multiple times? Do we care that she was depressed and suicidal? Do we care that she is a single parent with little resources?

I commended the church which took her in not caring about her immigration status and showed her the love of God. It is not a crime to try to try to survive.

by: pcnot4me

03-18-2010 @ 4:02pm

Another story of someone desperately wanting and needing to come to our great nation of prosperity built on opportunity and liberty. This very sad story is an illustration of why we need to protect our liberties and opportunties.

It also illustrates why it is important to spread freedom and opportunity around the world. Everyone can't come here. But we can encourage other nations to use our model. I pray we don't get away from our model like so many on the left are pushing for.

by: Ngchen

03-19-2010 @ 2:35pm

I wholeheartedly agree that the rapists need to be punished by the law. And I agree that there are problems. I can easily see how forcing immigrants (legal or not) to hide in the shadows easily perpetuates said abuses.

In terms of immigrating when one has job skills in demand (and a documented shortage) IIRC it's much easier than for the "typical" immigrant. In fact, I know as a scientist that one of the main perks of working in science is the relative ease of getting visas all over the world; since one's skills are so specialized, if (a big if) an employer in country X needs one's skills, chances are there is no domestic person with the same skills.

Of course nurses aren't in that category, but I would imagine that there are various "fast track" procedures for those wishing to immigrate based on the special skills in demand.

by: Ngchen

03-18-2010 @ 6:17pm

Interesting story. However, there are two tough questions that were unanswered. (1) Why did the woman not get a nursing job in Mexico? Were they unavailable? (2) Considering how there is an acute nurse shortage in the US, if she wanted to immigrate legally, why couldn't she have done so? (I'm guessing the language barrier is part of it, although probably not all of it since I know people who immigrated with very poor English skills.)

Comments sorted by highest rated. After voting you must refresh your page to see the sort order change.

by: pcnot4me

03-18-2010 @ 4:02pm

Another story of someone desperately wanting and needing to come to our great nation of prosperity built on opportunity and liberty. This very sad story is an illustration of why we need to protect our liberties and opportunties.

It also illustrates why it is important to spread freedom and opportunity around the world. Everyone can't come here. But we can encourage other nations to use our model. I pray we don't get away from our model like so many on the left are pushing for.

by: pcnot4me

03-18-2010 @ 4:02pm

Another story of someone desperately wanting and needing to come to our great nation of prosperity built on opportunity and liberty. This very sad story is an illustration of why we need to protect our liberties and opportunties.

It also illustrates why it is important to spread freedom and opportunity around the world. Everyone can't come here. But we can encourage other nations to use our model. I pray we don't get away from our model like so many on the left are pushing for.

by: Ngchen

03-18-2010 @ 6:17pm

Interesting story. However, there are two tough questions that were unanswered. (1) Why did the woman not get a nursing job in Mexico? Were they unavailable? (2) Considering how there is an acute nurse shortage in the US, if she wanted to immigrate legally, why couldn't she have done so? (I'm guessing the language barrier is part of it, although probably not all of it since I know people who immigrated with very poor English skills.)

by: storm8326

03-19-2010 @ 1:36am

Ngchen,

You have some good questions in response to the story. (1) I don't know the complete job situation in Mexico but obviously the situation had to be bad enough that she chose to come to the US to work. But what I do know is that trade agreements between the US and Mexico allow the US to import cheap goods there and many locals lose their businesses because people buy our things instead of things locally made. And these trade agreements also allow the US to place their sweatshops in Mexico and other countries in Central America where there are underage workers and many types of abuses. People are trying to run a way from the abuses in their countries and have a hope for a better life (the American Dream) that most US citizens are living.
For some information on US sweatshops check this out: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/sweatsh...

(2) It takes a very long time (up to several years) and a lot of money (thousands of dollars) to apply for a visa to emigrate to the US. When you are in a desperate situation you can not wait that long or get such a large amount of money in a short time. I encourage you to look at this website to find out what the requirements are for foreigners to get a visa to the US. http://travel.state.gov/sweatshopsfaq.html

I have some questions too that I feel are unanswered. Do we care that this woman and her mother had to sleep under orange trees and survive on oranges? Do we care that she was raped multiple times? Do we care that she was depressed and suicidal? Do we care that she is a single parent with little resources?

I commended the church which took her in not caring about her immigration status and showed her the love of God. It is not a crime to try to try to survive.

by: storm8326

03-19-2010 @ 1:36am

Ngchen,

You have some good questions in response to the story. (1) I don't know the complete job situation in Mexico but obviously the situation had to be bad enough that she chose to come to the US to work. But what I do know is that trade agreements between the US and Mexico allow the US to import cheap goods there and many locals lose their businesses because people buy our things instead of things locally made. And these trade agreements also allow the US to place their sweatshops in Mexico and other countries in Central America where there are underage workers and many types of abuses. People are trying to run a way from the abuses in their countries and have a hope for a better life (the American Dream) that most US citizens are living.
For some information on US sweatshops check this out: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/sweatsh...

(2) It takes a very long time (up to several years) and a lot of money (thousands of dollars) to apply for a visa to emigrate to the US. When you are in a desperate situation you can not wait that long or get such a large amount of money in a short time. I encourage you to look at this website to find out what the requirements are for foreigners to get a visa to the US. http://travel.state.gov/sweatshopsfaq.html

I have some questions too that I feel are unanswered. Do we care that this woman and her mother had to sleep under orange trees and survive on oranges? Do we care that she was raped multiple times? Do we care that she was depressed and suicidal? Do we care that she is a single parent with little resources?

I commended the church which took her in not caring about her immigration status and showed her the love of God. It is not a crime to try to try to survive.

by: Ngchen

03-19-2010 @ 2:35pm

I wholeheartedly agree that the rapists need to be punished by the law. And I agree that there are problems. I can easily see how forcing immigrants (legal or not) to hide in the shadows easily perpetuates said abuses.

In terms of immigrating when one has job skills in demand (and a documented shortage) IIRC it's much easier than for the "typical" immigrant. In fact, I know as a scientist that one of the main perks of working in science is the relative ease of getting visas all over the world; since one's skills are so specialized, if (a big if) an employer in country X needs one's skills, chances are there is no domestic person with the same skills.

Of course nurses aren't in that category, but I would imagine that there are various "fast track" procedures for those wishing to immigrate based on the special skills in demand.

by: Ngchen

03-18-2010 @ 6:17pm

Interesting story. However, there are two tough questions that were unanswered. (1) Why did the woman not get a nursing job in Mexico? Were they unavailable? (2) Considering how there is an acute nurse shortage in the US, if she wanted to immigrate legally, why couldn't she have done so? (I'm guessing the language barrier is part of it, although probably not all of it since I know people who immigrated with very poor English skills.)

by: Ngchen

03-19-2010 @ 2:35pm

I wholeheartedly agree that the rapists need to be punished by the law. And I agree that there are problems. I can easily see how forcing immigrants (legal or not) to hide in the shadows easily perpetuates said abuses.

In terms of immigrating when one has job skills in demand (and a documented shortage) IIRC it's much easier than for the "typical" immigrant. In fact, I know as a scientist that one of the main perks of working in science is the relative ease of getting visas all over the world; since one's skills are so specialized, if (a big if) an employer in country X needs one's skills, chances are there is no domestic person with the same skills.

Of course nurses aren't in that category, but I would imagine that there are various "fast track" procedures for those wishing to immigrate based on the special skills in demand.