When I was a baby, my dad moved to the United States to find work. Later, he saved enough money to pay a coyote to help smuggle my mom, brothers and me into the United States. I remember going to the coyote’s house near the border, dressing in dark clothing, and being told by my mom to be very quiet. I was very scared crossing the river, because we had to cross the river in the boat one at a time, and I was the last one in my family to cross the river with the coyote and I was afraid I was going to be left behind. Eventually we made our way into the United States, where we have lived together for years. My parents and I were granted amnesty in the early 1990s and we all have our green cards now.

My mom and dad have worked as farm workers since we came to the United States. For most of my childhood, we have lived in Texas, Arizona and California in the winter and Minnesota in the summer. Sometimes I get to go to school, but I have often had to help my family at work or watch my brothers and sisters. This is the first year we are staying in Minnesota for the winter, because my mom and dad have jobs all year round.