Vanessa, 37

We immigrated to this country because we knew there were more opportunities here — not just for us, but so we could offer opportunities to others too. I’ve worked with the community my whole life. I spent ten years as a home health aide, caring for people in their most vulnerable moments. For the past three years, I’ve worked with children in underserved communities, providing dental cleanings and oral health education. These children come from many nationalities, and I feel proud to serve them.
I do this work with my hands — for the people, for this country.
I’m Hispanic. I’m a Mexican woman. I’m a mother. I serve on the Education Commission as a parent. I’m a community leader.
And yet, even as I give back to this country, America is breaking my family apart.
The father of my child is undocumented. Every day, I live with the fear that he could be deported — that he might never come home again. It’s traumatic.
It’s painful to watch the news and wonder if he will be next.
I am here — serving, working, loving — and still, the system turns its back on us.
I share my story because I believe in light, in truth, and in the dignity of immigrant families.
We are not just numbers. We are part of America’s heart.