Hello, my name is María Reyes Montes. I am a single mother of three children and have lives in Portland, Oregon for the last 29 years. Oregon has been my home since I was a teenager and I have worked hard for many years to build a stable life for my family.

I was born in the Sierra Madre region of Nayarit, Mexico, where I did not have the opportunity to move forward due to extreme poverty in my family. Portland is my home, where I have worked in different places, struggling to provide a better life for my family.

I am now facing the renewal of my DACA in order to continue living in this country with my children. It is a difficult cost for me. I hope to travel to Mexico with Advance Parole; it is my hope to remain here in Portland, Oregon together with my children.

I like to serve others and I am always volunteering in my community, helping wherever I am needed. Right now, I feel vulnerable, with a lot of pain in my heart and fear because of ICE raids. My family is the most important thing to me, and I ask for your kindness and compassion.