“This is what we want most as a family- to be safe in this country”
To hear Valeria* describe it, she and her husband Eduardo* grew up with nothing – “nada” – and not just in the material sense. They lacked hope that they could overcome extreme obstacles to a safe and sustainable life in their community in Guatemala. Then, after Valeria became pregnant with their first child, threats of violence displaced them entirely.
Eduardo migrated first. Valeria, who lived next door to him in Guatemala, fled to the U.S. with their baby after the child was born. The first time they lived together safely as a family was in Arizona in 2015. They were still teenagers.
Over the next nine years, Valeria and Eduardo built a life closely resembling the American dream. They now have three children with a fourth on the way.
But having lost their immigration case despite doing everything the government asked of them, the family now faces potential heartbreak if they are not successful in their appeal.
The Florence Project Children’s Program connected with the couple in 2015 and began providing full legal representation. Valeria and Eduardo’s immigration cases were connected through marriage, so if Valeria were to win asylum, Eduardo and their noncitizen son could remain safe from deportation as well. Our social workers have provided vital assistance to help the family get on their feet, assisting with food insecurity, access to mental health counseling services, and most recently helping Valeria enroll in English language classes. She wants to earn her high school equivalency certificate. Eduardo first settled in Phoenix because he heard from a cousin that there were plenty of roofing jobs available in the Valley of the Sun. Full exposure to scorching summer heat and the dangers of working on unfinished and damaged roofs frequently result in labor shortages in the industry[1].
Young migrants are known[2] to take on roofing jobs in the U.S., and the economy continues to rely on immigrant labor for essential jobs with arduous conditions that go unfilled by U.S. citizens[3]. In recent years, many shorthanded industries such as construction, manufacturing, warehousing, food services and hospitality, and healthcare have advocated for immigration reform while counting on immigrants with temporary work authorization to meet their labor needs[4].
Eduardo has since moved on from roof work to doing home renovation and remodeling. Valeria provides secretarial work for his employer, but her dream is to get a real estate license and to purchase, flip and sell houses with her husband.
“A whole life has been made here,” Valeria says. “This is also where we got married, so we have these small things that little by little we have been building.”
Valeria is proud that their sons have excelled at a grade school that emphasizes math and science. The boys also enjoy playing soccer and the oldest is learning piano too. Their young daughter loves to run around in the park and will soon enter the federal Head Start program for school readiness. The whole family is active in its church, and Valeria and Eduardo also have siblings, nieces and nephews in the community.
Discussing her fear of deportation, Valeria says, “In Guatemala, we don’t have anything, and the education for the kids is not the same. There is a lot of danger for them.”
Valeria could have been deported after 30 days once her asylum case was denied. However, the Florence Project immediately filed paperwork with the Board of Immigration Appeals to argue that the decision should be reversed.
The people who come here seeking safety often spend years laying down roots while at the mercy of a system designed to detain and deport. They deserve meaningful accompaniment and legal counsel. Our message every step of the way is: “You, your spouse, and your children matter.”
We will continue to vigorously pursue legal relief for Valeria and her family for as long as there are options available.
And if not for your generous support, our multiyear advocacy to keep families together would not be possible.
“It would separate my family if the worst were to happen,” Valeria acknowledges. “I hope to have a positive response [in immigration court] one day and I won’t lose faith. This is what we want most as a family – to be safe in this country.”
If Valeria and her husband win relief, they will continue prioritizing their children’s education. Since the kids have already done well in school, she hopes they can achieve whatever careers they choose.
“They can perhaps help people like you all are doing as lawyers or social workers,” Valeria says. “We want to give back, and we already are contributing to this country because it has given to us.”
Often lost in the political debates about the border is the fact that the U.S. economy has benefited immensely from immigration, including by helping to stave off a recession by closing the labor gap[5] and providing a financial boost. Research shows that immigrants paid $579.1 billion in taxes in 2022 and had a spending power of $1.6 trillion[6].
Our priority is human life—safety, justice, freedom from detention, family unity, and respect for human dignity. Our staff are working hard every day to defend these values. Thank you for standing with us!
Valaria shares her gratitude as well. “Thank you so much for everything,” she says. “My family will always be grateful for everything that you have done for us.”
*pseudonyms used to protect privacy
1. “The roofing industry has been grappling with a labor shortage for several years. The work is hard on the body and
dangerous.” “The Roofing Industry: Navigating Challenges in a Complex Business” DryTight Roofing blog. Sept. 4 2023
2. “Federal law bars anyone under 18 from roofing because it’s so dangerous. But across the U.S., migrant children do this
work anyway.” “Children Risk Their Lives Building America’s Roofs” New York Times. Dec. 14 2023
3. A record 25% of construction workers were foreign-born in 2022 according to the National Association of Home Builders.
“Immigrant Share in Construction Highest on Record”. National Assocation of Home Builders. Dec. 18, 2023.
4. With labor demand at all-time highs coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, paroled immigrants have made a sizable
difference toward closing labor gaps,” FWD.us reports. “More houses were built, supply chains were reestablished, and
the tourist industry was able to keep up with demand in 2023 largely because of the estimated 1.1 million individuals who
have entered the U.S. with immigration parole.”: “Industries with critical labor shortages added 1.1 million workers through
immigration parole”. Fwd.us. January 3, 2024
5. “More workers filling more jobs and spending more money has helped drive economic growth and create still-more job
openings.” “How immigrant workers in US have helped boost job growth and stave off a recession”. Associated Press. April
12, 2024:
6. Tax data from “Map the Impact: Immigrants in the United States” American Immigration Council. July 2024