Navigating life as an undocumented immigrant is a journey that Diana and I know all too intimately; a reality that's marked by obstacles, fears, and peculiar triumphs. We're peeling back the layers on what it truly means to be a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient, to live in a country that offers us work but deprives us of benefits, and a home country that often feels like alien territory. We talk about how DACA has paradoxically become a beacon of normalcy in our lives, yet simultaneously a source of guilt, shame, and insecurity.
Song : Free Bird by GypsySummer
Navigating life as an undocumented immigrant is a journey that Diana and I know all too intimately; a reality that's marked by obstacles, fears, and peculiar triumphs. We're peeling back the layers on what it truly means to be a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient, to live in a country that offers us work but deprives us of benefits, and a home country that often feels like alien territory. We talk about how DACA has paradoxically become a beacon of normalcy in our lives, yet simultaneously a source of guilt, shame, and insecurity.
Song : Free Bird by GypsySummer
This is Latina's State of Mind, a podcast created by Latinas for all audiences, where we can share our experiences about love, life and everything in between. Hello, hello and welcome to another episode of Latina State of Mind. Hi, hi, how are we doing today?
Speaker 3:I think I'm doing really good, it was a good day. It's a good day today. Yes, it's a great day. Say that with more confidence please.
Speaker 2:It's a wonderful day, love it.
Speaker 4:We have a heavy topic today and I think I was excited.
Speaker 1:I'm really excited to talk about this, but I think I'm also nervous and emotional all at once. It's a topic. It's a topic. I'm not going to lie.
Speaker 2:I'm a little emotional about it, but we'll get through it.
Speaker 5:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What are your thoughts on the topic?
Speaker 1:So we're going to talk about undocumented life in the United States.
Speaker 2:I love it.
Speaker 1:So I'm going to have you guys know and I think we've shared before Diana and I have DACA. Can you explain what DACA is?
Speaker 2:I wish I knew the whole acronym, but it is basically some sort of relief, basically a type of visa, a limited visa that allows us to work. We can't travel outside of the country, we can't do, we can't receive a federal aid, so anything related to financial aid or food stamps or anything like that. We're not able to receive Any benefits. No benefits, correct. But we do take, we do pay our taxes. Not salty about that, yeah, no so, but it does helps us, it does give us a social security number and it does give us a visa in order to be able to work. So we can work in this country, we can enjoy, I guess, having a driver's license and travel within the country, but that's basically, and it's defer action for child.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I was just looking at it.
Speaker 2:So yeah, that kind of you do have to apply for it every two years. You have to pay for the biometrics application every two years and you have to pay for the actual application itself.
Speaker 2:It comes to about $500 every two years, and I myself have had it for 10 years, so I'm paying quite a bit so I could be a country in sort of like a limited, limited status, I guess, and I say that just because to fully take advantage of credit opportunities as well. I'm kind of, I'm limited to. You know, I just have to prove myself a little bit more whenever taking either an auto loan or a personal loan, because they say oh well, your visa is only for two years.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, you can't guarantee us that you're going to get it renewed and I'm like, okay, but I have good credit. Right, I'm going to pay you, but still they're like yeah, you do, but you're limited to those two years.
Speaker 1:So I think just a little background on DACA and I feel like it's it's such a sensitive subject, I know a lot of people have a lot of opinions about it and if I think, unless you have close contact with somebody that had grown up in this country undocumented ever understand what it's like, because neither Diana or I were asked like do you want to move to a different country. We were children when we were brought here and I started school here when I was 11 or 12. How old were you?
Speaker 2:when you started, I was eight.
Speaker 1:So we made this our home.
Speaker 2:We had to.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So we, you know, we just kind of figure it out as we went, we learned the language, we learned the culture, and our parents stayed and nobody said, hey, do you want to stay? There was not. There was not a way that we could have said, no, let me go back to no family back in Mexico, you know. So the whole concept of you should have come the right way. Well, we didn't have an option.
Speaker 2:I came the right way. I came in with a visa and I we were legally coming in. We illegally stay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, same with us.
Speaker 2:But it also wasn't the plan to stay. It just kind of worked like that. But yes, we were never asked, we didn't have the option, or parents were never going to ask do you want to stay here Do? You want to go back to Mexico, exactly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Um, so I think for me personally, I I was without DACA for a lot. Diana, you said it was a few months for you.
Speaker 2:Correct. So, um, I was lucky, um, I graduated school in 2012. And in that same year, 2012, november, it became available and I was one of the first applicants because I had everything basically set up. All I had to do was get some transcripts, some fill out an application or whatever, and send those $500, and there we go.
Speaker 1:I got it. Yeah For me. Um, I graduated high school in 2001. So I was without DACA for like 11 years. But, um, I think one of the things difficult was just not being able to travel and like watching all my high school friends go to college and have like a life and a full job. Like every job I had had to be, like babysitting, cleaning houses I made a table of stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like I had to get paid cash because I I didn't have a social and I was really always nervous about driving because I didn't have a driver's license and I just was nervous all the time. And when I wanted to go to a community college I couldn't get any financial help, so I had to pay for that by myself and it took me five years to get an associate's degree because there was times where I couldn't afford it and there was times where I just had to like wait it out for the next semester. Maybe I could afford the books then and wait it out for the semester after that. So I think for me it was just like just very traumatic to like see myself kind of feel stuck and, right before DACA came available, considering moving back to Mexico. The scary was that I didn't know anybody back there. Like I don't really like I have family but I haven't seen this family in years. So, yeah, that has been, I think, one of the hardest part about being here and being undocumented without DACA.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that's probably one of the differences now, because you guys are saying for you a one option, and now when the conversation about immigration and this way or the other. For, like most people who are now young, it was never an option. So it's a different experience and obviously, what parents went through, or your parents didn't know about it but just as traumatic and it had just as many challenges. It was just different.
Speaker 1:Do you want to share a little about your story, Diana Sure.
Speaker 2:What do you guys want to know? I'll tell you everything Except everything.
Speaker 1:No, it was. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. There was a period of uncertainty. The thing is what I wanted to do out of high education. There was a chance for me to go into another school with sort of plan that it wasn't going to be in state tuition but it wasn't going to be out state tuition. So it's still going to be. It was still going to be very pricey.
Speaker 2:But really hit whenever you said that you had to take longer to complete your class associate's degree because I had to do the exact same thing, I had to take two or three classes at a time because I was paying for it, my parents were paying for it, and I'll always be grateful because I think having the having the support of your parents to go through that is just monumental. It's huge, yeah. Without, at least, I think, without that kind of, como se dice, respaldo, without that kind of having your back, I don't think I would have been able to do it, but it was.
Speaker 2:It was very difficult having to navigate through all of that. It was very difficult to navigate through because I didn't have any experience and so I had to do, I had to do college tours. I had to do a college tour because it was only college till, by myself, and so that was, and like other kids with their parents going through this, and I was just walking by myself, I was like, oh damn, this is, it's difficult, it's tough. But you know you, at least I have the kind of mindset that I want to do this, so I'm going to do this.
Speaker 4:And.
Speaker 2:I'm going to feel very uncomfortable and I'm going to feel very awkward, but it's not going to stop me from doing something. So going through that was very difficult. I eventually completed my associates. I eventually completed my degree. So that was very exciting and I was very proud of myself for that, because I did it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2:Even after those uncomfortable moments, even after those awkward moments, even after realizing time and time again that I wasn't the same as others, that I didn't have the same opportunities to others, that I didn't have the same kind of easier route that, and I had no guidance either, so I was just doing it by myself, winging it, and yeah but I don't know.
Speaker 2:If you wanted to know anything in specific, I got so many knows I was talking to my mom about this I got so many knows and I got I especially got so many knows from Hispanic or Latin offices where there's about these students and they were always like, no, you don't qualify for this. No, you don't do this, you don't do that. And I was just like, oh okay, watch me, like, watch me go through this. You're just telling me now, but it's just, you know, making me even more hungry for success.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so proud of you.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Do you think it changed? Do you think you see life so okay? For example, for me, I always felt like I needed to prove that I belonged here as much as anyone else. So I felt like I needed to learn the American culture as much as I knew the Mexican culture. So like I wanted to learn like other things about the culture.
Speaker 1:That said, because of like the books that you read on in high school or the shows people watch or you know, there's just the culturally saying things that people pass down. But a lot of the times I don't understand, or understand a lot of because I didn't grow up here Like I grew here but it was different. You know, I grew up in like culturally different, but when I got to high school I felt like I was sort of something, like I just felt like such an outsider and for a really long time and I still do I feel like we belong but we don't belong, like we're here but we are not here. Yeah, we are finally getting to the point where we're claiming our space in this country, but I feel like for me, especially for a really long time, I was trying to fit into somebody's space like I didn't feel like I fit in into my culture. I was not like.
Speaker 1:My Spanish is good, but sometimes I was not great I also didn't fit in the American culture, because my English is not that good. So like I feel like a lot of the times like undocumented just made me fearful of a lot of things. It's like made me feel like I didn't belong anywhere. Did you like? Did you ever feel that way?
Speaker 2:No, well, actually sometimes, yes, but not usually. Coming in at a very young age, I easily more malleable, so it was easier for me to catch on to things. I've also been the kind of person who does whatever they want to do, so I have for like, oh dang, I don't like be. Whenever I felt it, I guess, was when I was. Everyone else was getting their licenses, the driver's license, and I was just like, oh, I got, I don't do that, I'm not able to do that. Yeah, that's when I first started noticing, but I never really felt like that, just because I think I was so young that I kind of assimilated quicker.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like at 11, then here you're more aware, and I yeah, so maybe you were able to notice the differences a little bit more True.
Speaker 5:I was going to ask about that. When did you guys know that you were different in that way, Like that you were undocumented? Because it's not like as a child. You're not thinking, oh, I can't do this or this, you know I'm not a citizen, or whatever. I think it happens later.
Speaker 1:I think, for me, my parents just were so fearful of immigration and I feel like once I hit like 15, 16, they were like, hey, you can't get in any type of trouble Like you cannot, like you have to be like down the radar, like you cannot, you don't bring attention, you just keep your head down, keep yourself safe. And then I was like, why? Like I want to be an actress, I want to move to.
Speaker 1:Hollywood and they were like Nabra and it was. I think it was just like life for me because I had different plans for myself, but then I couldn't leave anywhere because they're unsafe to go anywhere.
Speaker 2:So I think I was like 16, 17 when they told me I guess I was about that age as well, but for me it was because of the driver's license.
Speaker 2:Yeah everyone else was working on their permits and such Some of people were getting their cars already and I was like I wasn't even thinking about that Until other I guess friends or students or whatever they were talking about it. I was like, oh dang, I can't do that, I don't have. That's when I first realized. I still remember the moment. It was in a classroom in my high school and you know the students around us were talking about it and I was just like, I was just quiet, I can't relate at all. And that's when it first hit me. I was like, oh, different, it's going to be different from now on.
Speaker 5:Sad, what kind of feelings were you going to? I know. So now you said you were scared, like you brought those kind of feelings. But what else were you guys feeling at that point?
Speaker 2:It was the beginning of kind of building frustration Because oh, and disappointment as well not like self disappointment, but like, yeah, I guess overall I mean that, oh, I'm not going to be able to achieve the same things that my other friends or colleagues are going to be able to, so disappointment. And it's kind of the beginning of frustration as well that you don't have the same freedom as yours.
Speaker 5:I remember at one point in high school I think Maybe I was a little older, I don't remember but there were some kids who were saying like they were struggling in high school and they were saying, well, what's the point of us doing well if we can't do anything else after?
Speaker 4:Yeah.
Speaker 5:So I mean, I didn't have to go through any of that, as you guys know, but I've seen it and I know it's a challenge.
Speaker 2:It happened that my brother took that mentality my older. He graduated high school, he got into UNM University of New Mexico and he's starting it. He was doing well. I think he completed a year, I can't remember exactly but he got to a point where he was like, well, I can't do anything else. There was even talks that he wasn't gonna be able to receive his diploma, so just crushed it.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So he thought I'm wasting my parents' money, I'm wasting my time because he was getting paid everything, but still he was like wasting all of these things that he was receiving and I'm not even gonna be able to do with anything afterwards with this, even if I don't get my diploma, I'm not gonna be able to get in the field that I received the education in. So it's. I wasn't very frustrated with him because I was like, just do it.
Speaker 1:But I don't know what he was feeling exactly and I'm pretty sure he felt really crappy to have that, especially when you're like there is no end in sight, like there's not even DACA, there's no at that point, like there was no nothing. And I feel like that's how my older brother was too Like he was just like well, I'm not like he tried to go to school as well, but it was just too difficult for him until he didn't. But I think one of the things that, for me, has been really life altering, I think it's like having to tell people that I'm undocumented, like I, me too and it's this like thing that you carry with you. Like it's like something bad, like I remember just being like being guilty and ashamed and I like I look back now and think why was I ashamed of this? Like, why was I embarrassed to say this to like of who I am as a person and something that it wasn't my fault, first of all, and anybody in my parents' situation would have done it, like anybody would have stayed to take their kids and do whatever the best for them was.
Speaker 1:So I feel like eating was really difficult. If I dated my race, I had to be like I can't go on a you because, or I can't really go to a bar because of an ID, a valid ID, or I can't travel because of this, like. So it was just having to give people explanation of things that I just should have had. That I felt like in mine. That was so difficult and there was just like a lot of shame behind it, which now I think back and I'm like why was I ashamed of it?
Speaker 2:I know I feel the same way In early relationships when I was in my early 20s. I was never open about that in relationships and I'm pretty sure that kind of ruined it, because there's no trust there if you're not, if you're not able to share that. But I did it and now I think about it, why and I'm like whatever it happened and that's how I was dealing with it then.
Speaker 1:But and now I'm open- we're talking about it on a podcast.
Speaker 2:Exactly. There ain't no shame here, now. But I feel bad for those relationships because I wasn't able to be fully myself, because even this small aspect of my life was limiting myself so much, and to those men that I and I wasn't, and judge me for not being open enough and trustful. Well, that was it.
Speaker 1:How did that cut change your life?
Speaker 2:Oh, it changed it dramatically, I think, just because I was finally I worked around so I could get in state tuition. I poked through holes so I could get in state tuition, because it's technically just a work visa. And then I mean I might be like a little spoiled so I didn't really have to work. But once I was able to apply to a job and apply to any job, because at first my only prospects were McDonald's and working at like a Mexican restaurant, exactly.
Speaker 2:Clean anything that you could pay you in cash, basically, or somehow under the table. So those were my only prospects. And then, once I was able to actually apply to a job, it felt normalized. I guess I felt like a little bit more normal just because I was able to be like, oh yeah, here's my visa, here's my ID, and so it was life-changing. I mean to achieve whatever I have now with that limited visa.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:How did it change for you?
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, so much. I feel like I cried a lot about being undocumented all the time, Like I felt less than a lot, Like I think a lot of my self-esteem issues came so much from that. And when my dad told me about DACA I'm gonna get emotional, Do it I was like it's your normal self. Yeah, I was like no, it's not gonna happen, like they always say. They're gonna do something for dreamers and it's not gonna happen, like.
Speaker 1:And my dad's like no, obama said it was gonna happen, like, he's gonna, he's gonna make it happen. And I was like it's not that like. But I'd been let down so many times that I just didn't want to get my hopes up for anything. So when DACA went through, people were like, don't apply, it's just like a thing. The government's gonna try to like get information to deport you. And I'm like, well then, if that's the case, that's the case, but I'm applying. So I too was one of the first people to apply, like, if it's not a trap, I'm in. And I went through the process, I paid my money and I was expecting to cry. I was expecting to like get emotional about the whole process. We all know I cry about everything. For some reason I got my little card and I was like, oh my gosh, I can't believe it. And I just didn't cry about it, like it was just.
Speaker 1:And then I went to get a driver's license and I get to the line and the guy at the line was like so rude to me. And he was like, no, you need to come here prepared. And I was like, obviously I've never done this before. If I knew what I needed. Like your website is not very easy to like go through. I was like so I'm here to ask you questions? And he was like no, no, no, no, no, no, no, like just being super rude. So I was like I'm going to go back to the line and have somebody else help me, because you're ruining my day. So I just went back to the line.
Speaker 1:I was just having such a good day, like for the first time in my life I was going to be able to have a driver's license, and this man was telling me that I couldn't do it because I was missing something. And I was like nah, I like I have a social, like you're not going to tell me no right now. So I went back to the line and this other lady who was like I can help you and I went over and I was like this is the deal. I got that guy and like I was just my smiley self and I was so excited. And she was like oh, so you do need to bring a social, um, but since they probably have like sent it and it hasn't gotten to, you, just go to the social security office and they should be able to print it for you.
Speaker 1:Beautiful, perfect Will do. Get me an appointment. I'll come in and do my driver's license. Let's go, yeah. So I set up an appointment, I left everything ready, I drove my happy butt to the social security office. I get there, just big old smiles, just having the time of my life, and I get to the window and the lady says how can I help you? So I told her everything and she's like oh yeah, let me just look you up. She took my information.
Speaker 3:She comes back, okay, with a highlighted number and she says this is your social and that's what I have waited my entire life for is such a little number. And you're like, oh, and I cried in front of her. She looked at me and she said why are you crying? And I said my whole life, my whole life has been dependent on this stupid number. And now I have it. And now I can work and I can have a driver's license and I can go to school and I can belong somewhere. And I think it was that feeling of belonging and that nerd just made me feel like I belonged and it was magical. I just cried, like I cry every time I tell a story, and I just was so happy that it was happening to me and that not only was it happening to me, but it was happening to people like me. Now we had a chance, you know, like we had a fighting chance and we could belong somewhere.
Speaker 2:Yeah, first of all, I love it. That's probably the reaction I should have had, but I didn't.
Speaker 1:I was just like okay, I'm not surprised, give me my money.
Speaker 2:I need to start racking up some credit.
Speaker 1:I applied for like five jobs. Like I seriously just wanted to work everywhere because I could apply for jobs. I had like three jobs, point yeah, just because I could, I worked at a Bath Body Works. Yeah, like I was just like give me all the jobs. I have a social. I love that, yep, no.
Speaker 2:I did not have that experience, but actually I do remember receiving the little card and I was like it's such like a textured paper. Yeah, I remember feeling it and looking at it and like tearing the perforation areas, like tearing up the little card, the social security from the other part of the mailer, and I still remember that. So that's, that's my memorable moment. I didn't cry.
Speaker 5:I just remember the texture of the paper. Yeah. Different experience yeah.
Speaker 2:Same experience.
Speaker 5:Just different emotions.
Speaker 1:I had all the emotions for Diana. No, but really, though, you had all the emotions for all the things.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly. But I do remember going to the D&B and I learned my lesson the first time. They're like exactly the same. You're not prepared. Oh yeah, sing the nickname and then the next time that I went, I took a whole fucking folder. I was like, and I didn't slam it down, but I was like, okay, what do you need? Even things that you didn't need you had in there.
Speaker 5:Exactly, she was like my birth certificate.
Speaker 1:I had everything you could possibly ask for and more.
Speaker 2:I was like all right, let's do this. I want the driver's license. You're going to give me this. You're going to give me this.
Speaker 1:I need I need a little something. We should go to our favorite segment.
Speaker 2:Oh.
Speaker 1:I think I'm ready for a little bit of you're ready for it.
Speaker 2:Oh, what should we talk about today? You know what we're going to keep it in the government topic.
Speaker 1:Oh, I don't think it's fine. Let's get, instead of emotional. Let's crying emotional. Let's get angry emotional, exactly yes, let's go, I'm still crying no, no, no.
Speaker 2:You can rage cry.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 4:I'm welcome to that.
Speaker 2:Anyways, I, most individuals, have seen a video of Mr Glitch McConnell. Glitch McConnell, I'm sorry, mitch McConnell. He is the representative for, oh my gosh, the US, the Republican US, something.
Speaker 5:How's the minority? Leader of the Congress.
Speaker 2:OK, thank you. And he's an old individual, clearly, and that's OK. People can be old, but they shouldn't be old in politics. I agree Exactly, just because there should be a cutoff there should be a cutoff. First of all, there should be a cutoff of how many terms you can be in this position in this position? Yeah, and there should also be. There should also be an age limit, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he is, I believe, in his 80s. No, why is an 80 year old individual making decisions not only for a whole party, but also for younger individuals? To people his age Like it should be more someone that's more I don't know how to say it like better brain.
Speaker 3:That's not glitching.
Speaker 2:I, like you, know someone that's going to have a better response time, not only to respond for their party, but for people overall.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's just these old people, and it's not just him. There's many old individuals in both the Democrat and the Republican Party.
Speaker 4:They should not be there. Not be there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, mr President.
Speaker 4:Yeah, daddy Biden, he's old, you know what?
Speaker 1:You're OK. He shouldn't do a second term. But yeah, exactly he shouldn't even try to do a second term.
Speaker 2:There's in my opinion, there shouldn't have been a first term, exactly. And he's great. Well, actually I'm going to take that back. Yeah, he's average, average Joe. Just I don't say he's bad because I don't think he's bad.
Speaker 1:Anyways, I don't think he's good either.
Speaker 2:First of all, can I just make a little comment about politics? Yes, Don't trust politicians.
Speaker 1:Yes Like no, no, no. Don't give politicians your everything and pray to them Like that's weird.
Speaker 2:That's weird. It's OK to hate politicians.
Speaker 1:Yes, both of them, any of them yes.
Speaker 2:It's completely OK to hate.
Speaker 1:Even if you voted for them, it's OK.
Speaker 2:Exactly, you can change your mind, people can change their minds, but these people need to change their terms. I love that. I don't think men should be making decisions for women. I don't think old men should be making decisions for women, especially for women, but overall for women.
Speaker 1:Men and in between? Isn't there an age limit to when you can start serving in politics?
Speaker 2:Like when you can start like it's 40, at least for a president, I believe you have to be older than 35 or 45.
Speaker 1:So if there's an age limit to when you can start, that there should be an age limit to when you can stop.
Speaker 5:Do you guys think it should be based on like a cognitive test that they have to pass?
Speaker 4:or something.
Speaker 1:It's just like an age limit Age 60? I think even 70.
Speaker 2:No, I would say 65. Ok, Honestly, isn't well, that used to be the retirement age. I don't know. I think it has increased to 60.
Speaker 5:You're right it should read the retirement age. Yeah, it should read their limit.
Speaker 1:Like leave. I love that, I love that for them. Like that guy should probably take a break. Yeah, yeah, but he's yeah, he's probably like super stressed and glitching because he needs a break.
Speaker 2:Can I make another point? Yeah, make all the points, all the points. People so politicians are able to invest. They're able to invest in companies, are able to invest in. I don't know if they can invest in bonds, but anyways they're able to invest. A lot of these politicians have are influenced by law. These lobbyists can say should do this for this company, hey, we might be closing this company. That's what that politician does. They sell their interests and does they sell their, their investments in that. That's called insider trading. That's illegal for individuals. That should be illegal for politicians as well.
Speaker 5:I was just visiting to another podcast and AOC was talking about it. Yeah, and she's trying to.
Speaker 2:Her and the other guy that we hate, Ritz.
Speaker 3:We hate a lot of people.
Speaker 2:Gates. Matt Gates, he's an ugly individual, but AOC and him got together because this is an issue.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that should not happen.
Speaker 1:Regardless of party, like it doesn't matter, you should not be if regular people can't do it, then you shouldn't be able to do it Exactly.
Speaker 2:So this is my ramp for the day I like it. Politicians should have term limits, they should have age limits and they should not be able to invest in companies or whatever that are tied to lobbyists and also may have in secretary.
Speaker 1:And people shouldn't be giving their whole life to a politician, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:No, please start hating politicians again, all of them.
Speaker 1:Yes, let's go back to like everybody, hating politicians instead of each other.
Speaker 2:Exactly I like it. Oh my gosh, politicians don't care about you. I promise they don't care about you. They care about your money, they care about your money and they care about making money off of you and they don't care if you die.
Speaker 3:Am I wrong? No, you're not. I agree.
Speaker 5:I don't think it's the case for every politician, but probably most of them.
Speaker 1:Like 80% 90.
Speaker 3:90. Asc is excluded from that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, so I said 99. She's the 1%. No, I bet there's more politicians out there, but I don't know. It's getting ridiculous and it has to get to a point where we have to like wake up, I guess, and be like, hey, let's not fall in love with a politician that doesn't know me and doesn't have. I think we just have to do more research.
Speaker 1:Remember that they work for you not the other way around. Yes, exactly, they're not your God.
Speaker 2:Pushing around.
Speaker 1:Yeah, tell them what you want.
Speaker 2:Move them and let's move away from the podium, Anyway, oh this is going to be an episode. Right, what were we even talking about this before? No, I'm just kidding. But yes, please stop giving all your attention to politicians. Let's start hating them again.
Speaker 1:Thank you, yeah, 100% agree with Diana A grade. Any closing thoughts? I know that we, like Dan, and I, did all the talking today. Nancy, no.
Speaker 5:I'm very happy to give you guys the space to talk about it, because it's not something that of me personally. Like I said, I've had friends, I have family members and I've seen it, but it hasn't been my life journey. So I was more than happy to let you guys share. Thank you for sharing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, of course, yeah, of course. I love you Anything. Well, what would I do?
Speaker 2:I'm still in the Dirt DDS mindset, so you should say something. I'm so raging If you.
Speaker 1:I feel like the one thing I can say is living and the status that we live is difficult, no matter if you have DACA or not, and there's so many aspects about it. Like there's so many things like my dad passed away in Mexico and I couldn't go safer, well, and all that stuff, and a lot of the people that come here, they leave so many, so much behind to try to give their family a better life and there's no shame in that. I feel like, if anything, we should take that shame away and stop saying do it the right way. And stop saying stop judging people. Like I feel like until you're in other people's shoes, you will never understand why they have to make those choices and just be kind and be loving and I know it's difficult to understand that would solve, like every issue I can think of right now Like be a little more considerate, be a little more compassionate.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just be kind yeah.
Speaker 1:But don't be ashamed, like there's nothing wrong with you and gosh, we're doing amazing and we deserve to be here and we belong here.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I'm hopeful that sometime in the future the situation will be and that there will be a realization, and then you guys can vote not to have. Oh my gosh, people like that.
Speaker 2:My one wish that I could do me too, that like that hurts me to the core, that I'm not, that there's being, there's like so many laws or anything being implemented around me or affecting you and you can't do anything about it.
Speaker 1:Do anything about it.
Speaker 2:That. That will break, and I'm also. If you travel out, I will be jealous about that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, the travel side of the country.
Speaker 2:But if you travel outside of the country. I will be jealous about that, yeah anything else? I'm so sorry about that. It's okay, I'll live through it, but I'll be, like, I hope you have fun in your trip and I had a fun. That's what.
Speaker 4:I'll say no, but.
Speaker 2:I'm very grateful to have had this opportunity, because it did change my life and it changed your life. And one thing that I have learned over years is that not to be ashamed of it. It is what it is.
Speaker 1:Yep, beautiful. Only do what's best. Yep. Thank you, guys, I'll start crying. Thank you for listening. I hope you enjoyed this one and see you in time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if you have any questions, let us know.
Speaker 1:Yeah nice, also share your stories yeah because let's just all be nice, let's just be nice, okay, bye. Have a good night. Love you guys.
Speaker 4:Thank you for listening to Latina State of Mind produced by us. Your awesome hosts, diana, senia and Nancy, special shout out to Jerome our editor. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram at LSOM underscore podcast and on Facebook at Latina State of Mind. Hasta la próxima.