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Illegal in Utah: One undocumented immigrant's story


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Updated: 2/15/2011 12:27 pm | Published: 2/10/2011 5:34 pm
Reported by: Don Hudson
OGDEN, Utah (ABC 4 News) – Illegal immigrants have been a hot topic in Utah for years. Immigration laws have been discussed in the statehouse and high profile news stories circled around the immigration issue. ABC 4 wanted to take action to give you another perspective on this issue.

ABC 4’s Don Hudson spent several days meeting with and talking to a woman to find out what it’s like to be a mother, a wife, an employee and an illegal immigrant.

An Ogden woman named Esperanza, not her real name, agreed to talk with us if we would not reveal the names and faces of her family. The reason for the anonymity, she is an illegal or undocumented immigrant from Mexico.

Eight years ago, Esperanza said she wanted a better life.

She was living in Mexico with her family but her husband was in the United States. He got here by simply jumping a fence in Nogales, Arizona and out-ran and out-maneuvered border patrol agents.

Esperanza paid $800 to smuggle her daughter into the country and another $800 to get herself across the Mexican border into Arizona.

Esperanza, who speaks English, conducted her interview in Spanish because it was comfortable for her.

Looking back on her journey to the United States, she recalled, "I walked for 22 hours, walking and resting through the desert."

Esperanza paid $1600 for her and her daughter to get to the US.  She had her son after arriving here.
Esperanza paid $1600 for her and her daughter to get to the US. She had her son after arriving here.
"There is no other way for families with desires to have a good life." - Esperanza
Like many other illegal immigrants, Esperanza's road to Utah was quite different than most Utahns. However, today she considers herself a very typical Utah mother.

She said, "My typical day is get the kids ready for school, work until six at night, return to the house and prepare dinner. I help my kids with their homework and get them ready for bed, then go to my other job."

Esperanza works two jobs. Her day time job is at a popular chain restaurant in Ogden. In the evening she works part for an established local company. By the time she is done with her second job, it is 3 in the morning. She says she basically gets by on 3 to 4 hours of sleep per night and then catches up on the weekends.

Since coming to Utah, she purchased a home with her husband, bought cars, and even had a son here six years ago.

They attend church every weekend and their children attend public school. Esperanza is even on Facebook.

All of these accomplishments were made with the aid of a social security number she obtained by paying just $160. Esperanza says it's something most of her friends are doing as well.


"90 percent of my friends are like us, undocumented. They have the same problem, no papers." - Esperanza
Esperanza said, "90 percent of my friends are like us, undocumented. They have the same problem, no papers."

She feels bad about using someone else's social security number, but said in a Facebook message to ABC 4, "There is no other way for families with desires to have a good life."

Esperanza admitted she thinks about getting caught or even being deported.

ABC 4 asked if she lived in fear and she replied, "Well, yes. I worry that one day someone will find out. I worry for my children. We don't want to live like delinquents hiding in fear."

Esperanza understands anger toward illegal immigrants who commit crimes, but she said most mothers are not like that. She believes most mothers just want a chance to give their children a life they would not have in their home countries.

She said mothers are willing to risk living illegally to do just that.

She admits her life is certainly is filled, as she said, with both "happy moments and difficult moments."

Esperanza is aware of the current climate and attitudes about illegal immigrants in Utah and she says that has her even more concerned about what could happen to her and her family.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of ABC4

tessy - 8/10/2011 1:48 AM
0 Votes
I`m sorry for you guys, you`re really poor mentally persons, you say your country, what country? you forget your ancestors were the fist illegal here, you are a real illegal, not them, this land belong to the american natives, I can believe you are so proud to be an american or french or whatever white, you know you live here after your ancestors rape, kill, destroy a real culture, brutal abuse to any man or women, the real owners of this country, Esperanza don`t feel bad using other person ssn, you don`t feel bad for what your ancestors did it? Who is more illegal here Esperanza or you? Very sad no compassion around. Open your mind and think better is healthy for your soul. if you think my written is bad your spirit is worse.

NetScanr - 2/17/2011 1:57 PM
3 Votes
To Geniveve: Your work situation is THE PERFECT DEMONSTRATION of mexican and latino mentality over-all! Unlike other immigrants, legal or otherwise, those coming from latin countries REFUSE to assimilate into the U.S. culture. What's even more offensive, the BASTARDS EXPECT Americans to learn Spanish, and adopt THEIR culture and do things THEIR way! They can claim fear of losing their culture through 'assimilation', however it's 100% BULL and has no basis what soever. I myself have 2 cultures, American & Canadian/French. When my parents moved to the states (Dad was from NH), my Mom assimilated into the U.S. culture immediately and was fluent in English in less than a year (she didn't speak a word of English prior). She still kept her French culture/heritage, and even passed it on to me by the fact I speak French fluently. MOST LATINOS IN THE U.S. FULLY INTEND ON 'LATINIZING' THE U.S., OUR COUNTRY WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT! WE CAN STOP THIS HOWEVER! In Europe, you must pass a VERBAL, READING, and WRITING exam within 2 years of arrival. If you don't pass, your VISA is revoked and you are deported. European contries have laws REQUIRING the 'national language' of their contry be used to conduct business. European countries don't have multi-lingual signage anywhere, except for airports and other transportation hubs. The U.S. MUST STOP OUR OVER-THE-TOP POLLITICAL CORRECTNESS TOWARDS LATINOS/MEXICANS! GET RID OF ALL THE ENGLISH/SPANISH SIGNS AND REPLACE WITH ENGLISH-ONLY SIGNS! IF THE LATINOS/MEXICANS CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT, TOUGH S***T! IT'LL BE MORE MOTIVATION FOR THEM TO LEARN ENGLISH! EMPLOYERS SHOULD REQIRE ALL WORKERS SPEAK ENGLISH WHILE AT WORK, NO EXCUSES! LITTLE-MEXICO IN PRETTY MUCH ANY FAST-FOOD JOINT HAS NO PLACE IN THE U.S.A. I PERSONALLY AVOID GOING TO THE LOCAL MEXI-MCDONALD'S NEAR MY HOME FOR JUST THAT REASON. IT'S ALL YOU CAN DO TO PLACE AN ORDER BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND! IF EMPLOYERS PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN, WE CAN TURN THINGS AROUND!

CA Native - 2/16/2011 1:42 PM
3 Votes
GO HOME - WE DON'T WANT YOU - GO BACK TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY, YOU KNOW THE ONE. YOU ALWAYS FLY YOUR COUNTRY'S FLAG UNLESS YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON TV THEN YOU FLY THAT LITTLE AMERICAN FLAG SOMEONE THRUST IN YOUR HAND SO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY. WAIT YOU DO LOVE THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE YOU ARE RAPING THE CITIZENS OF THEIR IDENTIES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF MONEY FROM DEMANDING FREE HANDOUTS. WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF YOUR BULL CRAP. IF YOU COME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LEGALLY, I WILL BE THERE WELCOMING YOU. IF YOU SNEAK OVER JUST LIKE A THIEF, THAT IS JUST WHAT YOU ARE. GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR COUNTRY - THE ONE AMERICANS FOUGHT AND DIED FOR SO WE AMERICANS CAN LIVE FREE NOT YOU ILLEGALS WHO JUST STEAL, ROB, RAPE AND BRING YOUR CRIME HERE.

NE1EZOR - 2/15/2011 9:43 PM
0 Votes
My Apoligies, ya'll this little old redneck was just tryin to use one of them there euphemisms which at first I thought meant "U-fu-N-iz-Him" I mean like oh My God!

DoItRight - 2/15/2011 1:49 PM
0 Votes
In the lens of microbiology, an infection, where an alien entity spreads within the medium of a Petri dish. Eventually, if left unchecked, the vector thrives and overwhelms the body, injecting its characteristics and traits into the whole. The vector does not always assimilate, but, does gather forces and resources, co-opting, to insure that its incubation steadily grows and eventually controls the outcome of the whole… The "Spanish" influenza pandemic of 1918–1919, which caused ˜50 million deaths worldwide, remains an ominous warning to public health.

geniveve - 2/15/2011 8:33 AM
5 Votes
I am a biracial (black and white) 25 year old female college student. I am working my way through school by working at a restaurant. I am also discriminated against in the work place by illegal immigrants, and my employers who favor their cheap labor force which consists of illegal immigrants from Mexico who don’t speak English or follow labor laws (or federal laws for that matter, I do believe it is a federal crime to enter this country undocumented). I work with 2 brothers from Mexico who walked into this country on a back road in Texas (they told me this). One of the brothers is the “kitchen manager” and he is the only one who speaks English (VERY poorly). He is also the one who has been trying to sabotage my employment there. After finding out I wasn’t Mexican (again I am mixed. but a lot of people cannot distinguish what I am) and that I am “myate” (which is an offensive word in Spanish for a black person), my reviews went from excellent to poor. I have been working in this kind of environment for over two years. Until I finish school this is what I have to deal with. At my last review the brothers complained that they couldn’t understand me. Communication is an issue that I took to the owners prior to this, saying that they ignore me because I speak English and they don’t understand me. After that complaint the owners cut my hours. I have gotten to the point where I don’t know what to do. I have contacted ICE to report my employers (who are immigrants from china) for hiring minor illegals (which are working double shifts, I am not sure but I think that violates some child labor laws) along with non-minor illegals, and for paying them under the table. I don’t belive that its fair that I might lose my employment because I don’t speak Spanish, when being bilingual was not a prerequisite for the job.I have never been discriminated against before in my entire life. So when this happened it totally susprised me that it was illegal immigrants doing it.

mallissa - 2/14/2011 11:27 PM
4 Votes
Why the heck is she even gives her sob story on the news? Do I supppost to feel sad for her by stealing other people identity? GET REAL WOMAN! A lot of people out there want to come here to have a better life but they did not break the law and stealing identities. Yes, you damn right about the government going to take you and your family back to your country! It just a matter of time. Have you ever thought about other people before You used your fake Identity to buy your house and car? A lot of people suffering because of people like you using their names to buy the things that they did not even own. This is one of the reason why we're facing this market downturn. I don't want to hear any of your stupid sob story any more, if you want to live in the U.S. you need to do like everyone else did ( apply document with USICS)! DON'T PLAY SORT CUT!

NetScanr - 2/14/2011 7:19 PM
2 Votes
Bottom-line from this story: ICE should investigate and determine who this family is, establish the identities and whereabouts of the 90% of this family's ILLEGAL friends are, pack them up on a chartered Greyhound (or would that be Old Chihuahua) bus, with boxed-lunches as not to be cruel, and ship 'em back over the border they ALL crossed ILLEGALLY! Include the anchor-babies, so the U.S. isn't accused of ripping illegal off-spring away from their parents. Once back in their homeland, they can use their advanced skills, and Spanish to flourish, make their own rightful lives, and change things BACK IN THEIR OWN HOME COUNTRY, without dragging and RAPING Americans in OUR country!

DoItRight - 2/14/2011 7:00 PM
0 Votes
Laws of the United States of America. Reference: Immigration. http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t05t08+5142+31++%28unauthori http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t05t08+5147+31++%28unauthorized%20alien%29%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20 http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t05t08+5148+18++%28unauthorized%20alien%29%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20 http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t05t08+5152+31++%28unauthori http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t05t08+5156+31++%28unauthori http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t05t08+5099+2++%28section%20

mallissa - 2/14/2011 6:49 PM
4 Votes
Everyone wants to have a better life but it does not meant you have to break to law to get in to the U.S. Illegal Immigration should go back to their countries. My brothers and sisters in Cambodia want to come to the U.S. but I had to do everything BY RULE! I spend thousand of dollar and have to wait at least 10 years for them to get here. SO IF YOU WANT TO COMES TO THE U.S YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY AND DO ALL YOUR PAPER WORK THROUGH USCIS!
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