Hello, my name is Jaime. Those who know me, already know a lot about my story and what has been happening in my life for the past few years, for those who don’t, let me
introduce myself and explain my current situation.
When I was around 8 months old my parents decided to leave Mexico for two main reasons, My 2 year old older brother at the time was in desperate need of medical attention due to a sickness he was born with. The second reason was the political violence in the 80s in Mexico was volatile. My mom did try the legal route to come to America but was told the wait for her permission to enter was going to take a long time. My mom, knowing my brother's health was declining, decided to cross over anyway and we landed in LA in 1989 and lived there with “family” until my brother's passing just over a year later. My mom, not knowing what to do next, searched out her siblings who had already crossed into America years prior and made a life for themselves in Oklahoma.
Skip a few years later and I am now living in Oklahoma. Growing up in Oklahoma dealing with racism and what comes along with it did have a lot of negative implications on my mental health. Growing up I knew from a very young age that I was gay. Growing up and a conservative household and a conservative little town of 10,000 I had to hide a lot of who I was. If I was not being picked on at school, I was being picked on by my own family. Growing up I could tell I was
being punished for being who I was. Being made to work alongside my father at a very young age on farms picking fruits or vegetables or being sent to work on my uncle's farm every
summer growing up. My first interaction with my family confirming their dislike for anyone gay was when I eavesdropped on a conversation my family was having with an uncle who came out and was told to either “not be” gay anymore or leave the family. He sadly left. For those who
know about my Uncle he was someone I looked up to and cared a lot about.
Years later around the age of 14 I found out I was Undocumented and was not a citizen of the country that I thought I was from. Knowing that information had me spiraling for years, I thought for the longest time I had no life so what was the point of even trying. One day though I did start
trying, years of depression, years of hurt, I decided to try, I knew my only way out of Oklahoma was to better myself in school, better my personal life and health.I graduated in 2007 and decided to move out and separate myself from my family for my own well being.
In 2012 after years of saving money I had the opportunity to move to Puyallup Washington, where a friend from high school had been living for a few years. I decided to move with my best
friend who many of you know of and know and what also happened later between us. I drove to Washington state and had to make a new life for myself. 2 months into our move the job I had reserved for myself when I arrived did not hire me on, as well as losing the house I was living at due to my friend's drinking habits which led to us getting kicked out. We went our
separate ways at the time. I took my car and things and parked it in Seattle and lived in it for a year. I did whatever I could at the time for money, a hot shower and a warm bed, things that put
me in dangerous situations, things I am not proud of but do not regret.
After some time and some help from locals in Seattle I was able to get a job at a mall, I was able to rent a room from someone and slowly put my life back together. A few years later I was
working hard, had my own studio apartment, a decent job, I had made friends, I had somewhat of a life. At this time I learned about DACA, for those who know what DACA was, it was implemented to help the children of immigrants who came to America unlawfully to retain some legal standing in the country. It was an opportunity for many but did have its flaws. I struggled for years trying to get approved. Due to my family's anger towards me at the time for “abandoning” the family, important information like, elementary school registration, vaccination records and birth certificate were being withheld from me. Which made getting approval for DACA impossible. I later managed to buy the paper work with time stamps, and important legal information from my brother who managed to retrieve them from my parents home, but by this time
DACA was struck down and was no longer a viable option for me. Nobody was allowed to register for it, only those who had obtained it prior to the court's decision to strike it down, were
able to keep registering for renewal every other year. I made my peace with the fact I was not going to be able to get it. Living in Seattle I had a lot of support from the local community, resources that helped me along the way had been available for the undocumented community for a while now and made my life a bit easier.
Now for why I am here, Covid happened. Covid had a huge impact on the undocumented community including myself. Many lost their jobs and I was one of them. I was not able to
obtain any financial assistance, like personal loans, unemployment, or receive a stimulus check. My mental health took a huge, I was teetering towards disaster, I was suicidal. At one point I cut myself off from everyone I knew, it got to the point to where my friends had to call someone to come do a welfare check on me. I hit a low point and I needed to decide on my next steps. I came across a social media account on a girl who was in my same position, same problems. At the time many in my position were crossing into Canada and applying for asylum and started new lives there. At the time I was under a lot of stress and the only thing that made sense to me
was to move to Canada. I know it wasn't the best decision but it felt like I had a boot on my neck and I couldn't breathe. I went to Canada, I was dropped off at the border and applied for
asylum. Unknown to me at the time American decided to enact new rules on immigration. A rule unknown to me forced Canada to send me back to America and forced me to apply for asylum
at the American border crossing. It was a very scary 15 hour period of my life where I was questioned for a long time and had to wait in a small room. Obviously I was never going to get
asylum in America, I did not qualify under their rules. I was forced to wait for my immigration court hearings, I was not allowed to work while waiting, I got kicked out of my friends apartment and made homeless again. Luckily I had an Amazing
friend who took me in and helped me when I really needed it. 2 years of waiting, several court hearings later and my case was finally concluded. I did not have any other options, me being in
America since I was under a year old to now at 35 did not help , not knowing anyone in Mexico did not help, being estranged from my family for years did not help, me constantly trying to do the right thing didn't help. I have until July 1, 2024 to leave the country. This is why I am asking for help.
I will be on my own for the first year in Mexico, I will receive minimal help from the government while I repatriotise. I have to get started on getting paperwork from the consulates office in
Seattle. I will need an Identification card and a passport which costs money. I will have to fund my travel from Washington State to Mexico. I need money for a small apartment in the city I will decide to move to. My main concern is my safety, we all know Mexico has many safe places and not so safe areas to live in. I will need money to help fund my 1st year there. I have looked into the cost which while cheap but things will add up. I will be looking for a job while I am down there but things will be a bit rough for a while. I am asking for $12,000. Why that amount? This will help pay for a year's worth of rent, utilities, food, my travel From Washington State to Mexico, administration and paperwork fees that the Mexican government decides to charge. I know this sounds like a lot, and I know things are tight with everyone, but with the help of my friend Sara, If we can get this seen by enough people we can raise the amount needed quickly and hopefully in time before my move away.
If anyone has any questions about my life and my move back to Mexico, do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you!
Jaime