Immigration. Heard of it? The answer is probably yes. Everyone seems to have an opinion about it. Today we have the story of immigrant Ofelia Cruz. She came from Peru looking for a better life. She had an unexpected twist in her journey.

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The Unexpected Twist

Part of the 5-B series ”Immigrant Voices’’

Matthew Margolin

Host: What is on the news every day?  Immigration.  People like President Trump say immigrants are bad people, but that’s not always true. People from places like Peru don’t have it as well as people of America do. Immigrants move to America because they struggle in their country with getting money and even good jobs. Even if they have a good job, the jobs sometimes don’t pay a lot.  Today Matthew has the story.

Matt: Thanks Yuki. Ofelia Cruz moved from Peru.  Life there was substandard. She had a good job, but even though it was a good job, it didn’t pay much. The rest of her family all went to the U.S., then she came to join them.

Ofelia/Sound Bite: Oh… In my country, I work in the bank for 3…. 13 years…I start 22 years old I continue  um…until 30.34 34  years old

 Matt: Ofelia had a good life and in her country.  She could practice her religion without fear. When she moved here, she moved to a city where there were a lot of people from Peru, so they worshiped together.

Ofelia/Sound Bite: My city consists of a group of Peruvians and we always come together to preserve the traditions of my country.

Matt: Although she had religious freedom she still had trouble with finding work. It was hard because immigrants don’t get treated well and they can’t get the jobs we can get.

Ofelia/Sound Bite: I think um.. work in the bank too, but uh, it’s not possible because the first um…..…..It’s supposed to I, I learn English first, but if I….When I go to the bank it’s necessary to speak English, but uh, if I don’t speak English I don’t start working in the bank.

Matt: This was hard for her. Then out of the blue someone offered work, but it had an unexpected twist.

Ofelia/Sound Bite: Somebody told me, “You want to work?” tell me, “Ok let’s go.”  We, we go to the some house and she told me, “Okay, we work, um, cleaning the house.  But, “Cleaning the house,” I say, “I don’t know, okay, but I, I, I don’t feel good.”  And when I clean the bathroom I’m crying.”  I come in in this country for cleaning house, or no?

Matt: Finding work was the only trouble Ofelia went through. For most immigrants, the journey here is the hardest part.  It can take days, even weeks, and it is sometimes dangerous, but Ofelia had a different story

Ofelia/Sound Bite: Very easy because I come here, um, with a ten-year visa.

Matt: After her visa ran out Ofelia became a citizen. To her, there she felt nothing changed compared to not being a citizen.

Ofelia/Sound Bite: Honestly I felt no difference.

Matt: As you can see, unlike Trump says, not all immigrant are bad and they go through a lot. They get bad jobs because they are immigrants and they are discriminated against. This is hard for them, when they just want to live like you and me and have a good life. So take the time to think about them and not think about them as “criminals” or ”illegals.”