My Immigrant Story

My name is Sandra Yudith Diaz Rodriguez-

I’m from Reynosa Tamaulipas Mexico, at least that’s what my birth certificate says.

I’m also from a small ranchito in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, that is where my roots are from.

I’m also from Houston, Texas, which is where I grew up. 

Where many of my firsts happened: first time riding a bike, first friends, first heartbreak, first time experiencing fear, uncertainty, instability, and my first thoughts of giving up.

I’m also from Illinois. I’m from Gurnee, Waukegan, Round Lake, McHenry. This is also my home. 

Along this journey, I have met many inspiring people, who are in the fight for immigrant justice. 

People with countless stories like mine…

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My parents came to the United States when I was 4 years old. 

I turned 5 without a mother or father to hold. 

A few months later, my crossing took place, 

at the hands of a strange woman who oddly made me feel safe. 

I arrived at a tiny studio apartment in the HTX,

and my family was whole again.

My father built homes in the Houston heat,

and my mother cleaned toilets so I could eat.

I know my parents did their best to keep me safe,

But still, I was 6 when I got jumped in the bus for stepping on some Js.

It was normal for me to hear of people dying every day,

I was 14 when I first learned that finding dead bodies in the dumpster

was not normal to some of my citizen friends.

You know, the ones lucky enough to be born with a document that for me seemed so far away

I still did my best: Honor Roll Student, a top athlete in state, president of NHS, 

applied and was accepted to the best schools in my state. 

I checked all the boxes. 

Why am I not getting financial aid?

I was close to giving up 

until DACA came into play.

I had the motivation to continue, 

but no money or knowledge of the game.

My life took another turn, 

when a white supremacist in the oval office made the entire country unsafe

Racists were empowered, 

DACA was being taken away, 

287g was threatening my neighborhood, 

and police did not serve or protect

In order for my family to stay together,

we had to make a move, yet again.

Illinois welcomed us and in this safe space, 

my fight for immigrant rights began.