TRAITORS (21 page)

“Sometimes
we
only
see
them
again
in
photos,
or
other
times,
not
even
that.
One
day,
when
we
least
expect
it,
we
get
a
call
letting
us
know
that
they
have
passed
and
we
will
never
again
have
the
chance
to
hug
or
kiss
them.
It
is
then
that
we
have
to
make
the
biggest
decision
of
our
lives:
whether
to
go
back
to
bury
them
and
re-run
the
risk
of
entering
here
illegally
because
we
are
undocumented
or
because
we
think
we
would
not
gain
anything
by
doing
so,
or
most
ironic
of
all,
because
we
have
no
money;
for
the
American
dream
never
came
to
be.
Our
parents
pass
and
we
are
rendered
here
to
become
a
living
dead,
keeping
up
with
the
daily
struggles,
and
with
our
hearts
torn
into
pieces.
A
part
is
torn
off
for
each
family
member’s
passing.
Some
migrants
lose
their
parents,
followed
by
their
siblings
after
not
having
the
time
to
see
them
again.
But
we
have
to
gather
strength
to
keep
fighting
for
those
who
remain.
Sometimes
the
struggle
becomes
more
and
more
meaningless.
Some
just
keep
on
struggling
for
the
sake
of
it
and
they
forget
about
the
American
dream.
They
live
a
life
of
conformity,
just
beholding
how
the
laws
are
becoming
tougher
each
time.
They
see
how
our
community
is
divided.
We
lose
the
desire
and
we
end
up
being
second-class
citizens
in
this
country,
which
is
exactly
how
the
anti-immigrant
groups
treat
us.”

“The
people
who
attain
the
American
dream
forget
that
they
reached
this
country
in
the
very
same
manner
as
those
who
have
just
arrived.
They
lose
interest
in
helping
the
community.
They
think
that
the
attacks
against
immigrants
are
only
for
those
without
legal
documents.
They
shield
themselves
with
their
Green
Cards
or
Certificate
of
US
Citizenship,
unaware
that
discrimination
does
not
recognize
their
now
legal
status
and
that
racism
against
Latinos
also
affect
those
who
have
been
born
in
this
country.
We
are
seen
as
intruders
who
have
come
to
take
jobs
away
from
Americans.
And
simply
for
being
Spanish
speakers,
we
are
already
considered
invaders.”

“It’s
sad
to
see
how
a
small
group
of
anti-immigrants
are
united
in
their
fight
to
make
the
stay
of
illegal
immigrants
more
difficult
each
day.
They
plan
to
put
into
effect
harsher
laws
so
as
to
deny
citizenship
for
children
who
are
born
here,
but
are
of
undocumented
parents.
They
root
for
laws
to
deny
us
emergency
health
services,
or
in
some
cases,
education.
Such
small
groups
work
together
and
remain
united.
They
are
capable
of
having
strong
influence
over
Congressmen
and
Senators,
while
the
Hispanics
who
have
progressed
and
prospered
do
not
care
about
our
future.
They
don’t
bother
to
make
coalitions
that
will
gradually
integrate
more
people
and
form
stronger
movements,
not
to
go
against
the
country
or
cause
problems,
but
to
give
us
all
dignity
as
Hispanics
and
help
people
get
out
of
their
oppressed
lives,
and
also
to
demand
the
implementation
of
legislation
that
will
help
both,
the
country
and
the
people
who
live
here—legal
or
illegal.”

“We
don’t
expect
the
United
States
to
applaud
those
who
arrive
illegally
and
give
us
a
prize
for
crossing
the
border.
On
the
contrary,
I
think
it
is
time
for
the
laws
to
change
making
immigration
to
this
country
more
orderly.
But
yes,
it
is
time
for
those
of
us
who
have
worked
here
to
receive
help
in
coming
out
of
the
shadows,
or
at
least
be
recognized
for
the
economic
contribution
that
we
give
to
the
community.
Our
politicians
know
that
an
amnesty
would
bring
positive
economic
impact,
as
what
happened
with
the
1986
amnesty
under
President
Ronald
Reagan.
We
do
not
want
Congress
to
pass
economic
packages
for
us,
nor
are
we
asking
them
for
a
single
dollar
to
be
given
to
each
immigrant.
We
want
them
to
charge
a
fine
for
illegal
entry,
to
forgive
us
and
to
allow
us
to
stay.
We
simply
ask
them
to
allow
us
to
work
with
dignity
and
for
them
to
value
our
work.
We’re
requesting
them
to
put
an
end
to
laws
that
keep
separating
us
and
to
help
our
countries
find
a
real
solution
to
prevent
migration.
And
of
course,
to
punish
criminals
with
the
power
of
the
law,
but
exclude
those
of
us
who
do
not
count
as
one
of
them—those
of
us
who
have
come
to
work
and
seek
the
American
dream.”