“I’m from Kosovo. I grew up on a farm in the countryside. You had to listen to what your daddy told you. I got up early to feed the cows. I worked hard every day. When I was 18 or 19, I started working at a brick factory in Slovenia. Then I hurt my hands a little bit. The doctor said I couldn’t work. I had a friend, and I said to him, ‘You want to go to the United States?’ He said, ‘How?’ I said, ‘It’s not going to be easy. But we can try.’

“I loved to watch cowboy movies on TV. They showed the United States a lot. I saw the fighting in Vietnam and things like that. All the time I had this in my head, that I wanted to come to the United States. And I did.

“I started in Chicago. I worked in a restaurant. I washed dishes and cleaned restrooms. I worked 12 hours a day. It didn’t bother me. It was my job. I did that for a year. Then I had a friend in Louisiana. He worked on an oyster boat. He said I could make more money. I said, ‘OK,’ and I went to Louisiana. I worked as a deckhand. I made good money. Then I moved to Texas. I had my own oyster boat. I ran it for almost 30 years. I had two deckhands. It was a hard job. You’re gone from home a lot, sometimes eight or nine nights. You’re out there working in the rain and the cold. But I did it for my family.

“I love this country. I appreciate the United States, a thousand times, for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this life. The way I look at it, God is number one, the United States is number two. That’s all I can tell you. People can say what they want. A lot of countries hate our guts. I don’t care. They’re jealous. United States economy is number one. United States power is number one. Nobody can mess with us. They can say what they want. United States has the best in the world. I love my country.”

— Jimmy Saciri

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“I’m a first-generation Mexican-American. My parents migrated here when they were teens for a better life, better job opportunities. It really worked out well for them. My mom works for a veterinarian and my dad works construction, installing ceramic floor tiles, carpets, that kind of thing. He has his own business. I have an older brother, and he’s working with my dad.

“I understand President Trump’s policy ideas. I know where he’s coming from. But I sometimes find myself between a rock and a hard spot. I know there are some people breaking certain laws in the U.S., and you have to obey them. But then again, back where my roots are, it’s rough over there. Not many people are willing to stand up and overthrow the government. So they have to find a better route, for them and their families.”

— Francisco Acuna

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“I don’t like to say this because a lot of people who are undocumented are so talented and hard working. But I was pretty ready to just leave the country after graduating college. The climate of immigration was so tense. I was feeling desperate. I thought, I have to do something. I can’t just stay in this state of limbo and uncertainty.

“Then life happened. I met my husband. We fell in love and we gave it a shot. That’s how I adjusted my status. I didn’t set out to do that. That was not my plan. In my young and immature mind, I wasn’t even thinking about marriage. But getting married ended up being the best thing that I’ve ever done in my life, especially for my sanity as a person. I love my husband. He’s the best part of me.

“At the same time, some part of you feels a little guilty. It’s like, I’m OK now. I’m going to get my papers. I’m going to have that privilege. But what about my friends and others who are still fighting and waiting? They may think that you sold out. That you chose the ‘easy way out’ after working hard for so many years for all of us to have the right to live here. It wasn’t like that. But I understand why some people would think that way. I understand how they must feel.”

— Julita Rincon

Julita, 33, came to the United States from Mexico at age 13. While attending University of Houston, she was president of the student organization, Jóvenes Inmigrantes por un Futuro Mejor (Young Immigrants for a Better Future). The group advocated for proposed legislation, such as the DREAM Act, that would provide a pathway to citizenship or other legal status for undocumented residents. Julita got married in 2010. She became a U.S. citizen in 2013.

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“Now it appears to be politically incorrect to be proud of one’s heritage. I’ve never known this country to be so divisive that now, in the eyes of certain people, it is not OK to take pride in one’s ethnicity.

“Have we really come to that point? If so, it’s sad. People should be able to take pride in who they are. Because of this last election, I think we’ve gotten to the point where instead of looking into the hearts of people, we’re looking at the color of their skin or at their heritage to try to determine what type of person they are.

“We need to understand that with all that’s said and all that’s done, we’re all Americans. Everyone wants a fair break. Everyone wants an even chance. So I, for one, am going to try to practice tolerance.”

— Joe Montemayor

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“I was an immigrant once. I know how it is to come here and work hard to provide for your family.

“My mom wanted a better life for us, but I didn’t like it here at first. I was crying for six months because I wanted to go back to Mexico. But my mom kept telling me there is a better future here. And she was right.

“Still, sometimes I can’t believe that I’m now reading bedtime stories to my kids in English. When I was little, playing house and all that, I never thought I was going to be here. But I’m very thankful for the life I have here with my family.”

— Anna Saultz

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“I moved here from Mississippi for work and better schools for my kids. I really like the schools here and feel they will give my kids a better foundation for college and to enjoy productive lives in the future.

“And she moved here from Vietnam in 2013. She speaks very little English. She was pretty poor. She came to America by herself to start a new, better life. She has three kids, one in California and the other two still in Vietnam with relatives. She really misses them and gets very emotional when she speaks about them. Her hope is to eventually own a home and to bring her kids over from Vietnam.”

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“I’ve faced a lot of challenges in my life.

“I came to this country from Mexico when I was 14, and I’m 56 now. We had a big family, and I worked to help out my parents.

“I was married 13 years and became a widow at a young age. My kids were young at the time, and I tried to work while they were in school. I spent the rest of the day taking care of them and helping them with homework. I couldn’t help too much because my English was pretty basic back then. But we made it through.

“My kids are 32, 30 and 28, and married now. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. Sometimes through all your hard work, you may not become rich. But I’ve come a long way, and I’m happy.”

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