Citizen Illegal

Material Information

Title:
Citizen Illegal
Series Title:
Immigrant Voices: New to Middlesex County
Creator:
Mancheno, Mel ( interviewer )
Name, Anonymized ( interviewee )
Espinoza-Wulach, Cristóbal ( advisor )
Place of Publication:
Edison, NJ
Publisher:
Middlesex College
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2025
Language:
English
Physical Description:
PDF, Image

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Guatemalan Americans -- New Jersey -- Middlesex County
Immigrants -- United States ( lcsh )
Middlesex County (N.J.) -- history
Genre:
oral histories ( lcsh )
Temporal Coverage:
Spring 2025 ( 2025 - 2025 )
Spatial Coverage:
New Jersey -- Middlesex County

Notes

Abstract:
This oral history captures the story of "C", a Guatemalan mother who entered the United States twelve years ago seeking safety and opportunity. C recounts her early life working in the fields of Guatemala, and the economic strife that forced her family to separate and migrate across different countries. In the U.S., Rosa works as a domestic laborer while navigating the daily fears and limitations of life as an undocumented immigrant. Her narrative reveals the emotional toll of invisibility: missing school events, hiding from public life, and living under constant anxiety. Despite systemic exclusion, C finds strength in her children. Her testimony reflects both the resilience and vulnerability of undocumented motherhood, offering a candid look at the hidden labor and substantial sacrifices that sustain undocumented families in America. ( ,,, )
Abstract:
This is a transcript of two oral history interviews that took place as part of the class projects for Middlesex College's History 222H class in the Spring of 2025.
General Note:
Interviewee's brief autobiography: My name is "C", and I came to the U.S. from Guatemala twelve years ago. I left because there was no work, no way to support my family. Here, I clean houses and take care of other people’s children while raising my own. It’s not easy, but at least they have a future. The hardest part of living here has been the politics. ICE is always in the back of my mind. I avoid driving too far, speaking too loudly, or drawing attention to myself. When my son asks why I can’t go to his school meetings, I tell him, “It’s complicated.” He’s a U.S. citizen, but that doesn’t protect me. Even with all this, I don’t regret coming. My kids are safe, they have opportunities I never did.
General Note:
Recorded on April 27th and April 28th, 2025, in an undisclosed location, New Jersey, via phone recording and by-hand transcription.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Middlesex College
Holding Location:
Middlesex College
Rights Management:
This item is licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivative License. This license allows others to download this work and share them with others as long as they mention the author and link back to the author, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.