Not all undocumented immigrants are criminals, contrary to President Trump’s allegations

Editor’s note: The name of the subject in this article has been modified to protect her identity.

Being an undocumented immigrant in the country of the free

Imagine having to pack up your belongings and have to say goodbye to everything and everyone you’ve ever known. Imagine having to leave your home not because you want to, but because it is the only way to survive.

10.7 million undocumented immigrants have escaped their home country to live in the United States.

Marie is one of those undocumented immigrants. Marie has been living in the United States as an undocumented immigrant for four years now.

44 percent of Mexico’s population lives in poverty and the families who suffer travel across the southern borders so they can give their family the life they deserve. They want to be able to provide for them, have an education and be able to flourish.

“We arrived in hopes for a stable life and a better education,” Marie said. “It was difficult to adapt not just because we didn’t know the language, but also because, in the beginning, we didn’t know anybody.”

Through the eyes of an immigrant

Marie had tried to escape Mexico once before. She was nine years old when her mother first told her that they were leaving to go to the United States for a better life. They had traveled to Sonora where they would soon cross the border.

“We were three days in a house where we waited until our turn (to cross the border). We had to pay three thousand dollars to cross the edge of the United States,” Marie said. “But the least expected happened, my father called the coyote [someone that helps smuggle immigrants into the United States] and told him that if he helped us pass, he would send the police.”

Marie had little to no connection with her father when she was younger. He controlled all aspects of her life, however, telling them when and when they cannot live in their own home.

After her father made that call, they were forced to go back. Two months later, Marie’s mother left to go to the United States and Marie was forced to stay in Mexico with her sister, who was five at the time.

“That day was the saddest of my life because I felt that they were scavenging me, but I had to be strong for my sister,” Marie said.

Her mother realized how unhappy they were and told them to come to the United States. Marie was 14 and her sister was 10. They took four buses in total to get to the southern boarders.

“During the road we saw many poor people, some people were lying on the grounds already dead. The only thing we ate was burritos but what I did not understand was that my mom paid a lot of money so that we would not suffer and that we would get right in but it was the opposite,” Marie said.

When they arrived in Agua Prieta, the coyote separated Marie from her sister. They told her that only she could pass without getting caught. That night, Marie and her sister were separated. Marie was left alone for about a month before she crossed.

“I only walked five minutes and they caught me and sent me to jail where all the immigrants are,” she said. “The prison was cold and they did not give you anything to eat or blankets to cover you. They gave us plastic cover, and I remembering wearing a low cut blouse. They did not feed me, they mistreated us and they pushed us.”

After spending three nights there, she was taken to an immigrant shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. In a week Marie had a social worker who was helping her to communicate with her mother. Marie was going to be reunited with her mother after four years. By traveling to Pennsylvania, Marie had a risk of deportation.

“I’m scared because when I was 16, right now I am 18, I have a deportation so I have to go to every single court. But in that court ICE can deport me like whenever, whatever time.”

Marie doesn’t risk deportation right now, however she is still wary of where she goes and is always hesitate of where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could be located. 

The Trump administration

President Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized that illegal immigrants are criminals and have pressed to build a wall to keep all immigrants out. However, according to The Washington Post, native born citizens commit more crimes than undocumented immigrants.

“Trump is saying that all illegal immigrants are coming into our country are criminals and they’re dealing drugs and are rapists and most of it is not true at all,” said Marie. “Yeah, I know that some of the immigrants are getting into bad stuff like drugs, but it’s not everybody. So because of one Mexican, we all have to pay because of him.”

ICE arrests of immigrants without criminal convictions have spiked 203 percent in the first full 14 months of Trump’s presidency.  It grew from 19,128 to 58,010.

Trump’s new policies have been trying to increase boarder patrol to halt the arrival of undocumented immigrants. However, the amount of immigrants crossing is increasing. 

Families are leaving their home countries because of poverty, crime rates and lack of education. Many feel that their home country is so bad that if they do not leave, they will be killed. Many travel from El Salvador, one of the most violent countries in the world.

Undocumented immigrants want to apply for citizenship, however, it is a complicated process. To be qualified for citizenship, an individual needs to meet a number of requirements, including having permanent residence, or posses a green card for at least five years.

“It is very difficult for us to get money, I don’t have a permanent residence or a green card,” Marie said. “I am applying for I-360.  I have been here for 4 years and have not gotten anything.”

“The I-360 petition is one that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provides for foreign nationals wishing to begin the green card (lawful permanent residence) application process within one of the “special immigrant visa” categories.”

With the current legislation it makes it virtually impossible for someone who entered the country illegally to obtain permanent residence.

“The United States and Mexico feel the same because I feel unsafe,” Marie said. “In Mexico you feel unsafe because of traffickers or being killed, in the United States you think ICE is going to come to you, so I am scared.”

Marie attends Cabrini University. She feels safe in a community that welcomes immigrants. She wants to continue her education and  become an immigration lawyer.

“I am a person who has fears and disadvantages, but I know that I can face everything fighting with what I have,” Marie said. “With the support of people who love me and I love them and I know that I love Cabrini and it brings me strength.”