Thread: No Papers No Job

Wow Guys she did not get the job!

No Papers No Job
Commentary, Victoria Garcia,

a community based jobs and recreation program for young people— approached my friends and me one day this Spring while we were just sitting on the shady park benches trying to keep out of the suns way. I was with Traviesa and Dopey.

"Hey you guys, I found a job for you!" is what he was yelling on his way over to us.

We just laughed if off thinking that it was going to turn out like always. He'll tell us he's going to give us a job at BYA then he'll bulls—t for hella long until we get tired of asking him about it. It turned out he really did have a job for us this time. All we had to do was go in and do the paper work. We followed him back to his office to handle it.

After giving him our names and addresses and all that stuff he told us we had to return the next day with our birth certificates, social security cards, and photo IDs.

Knowing that I could have that stuff to him by the next day I was excited to think that I was finally getting a job. I was so happy for myself that I didn't even hear when my best friend Traviesa mentioned to him that she wouldn't be able to work with him. All I heard was Mark saying "Why not? I thought you wanted a job!"

That's when she told me that she couldn't get a job there because she didn't have all the paper work.

She was born in Mexico and came to the United States with her family when she was four. They settled in Los Angeles for a couple of years then her family moved to Berkeley. I met her in middle school in one of my classes. Seeing her for the first time, I didn't even know that she was a Latina —when I found out she was Mexican it was more of a shock.

She's about five foot four, very long, black, straight hair. She has a much darker complexion then the typical Mexican. When I first met her I thought she was Filipino, maybe even mixed with a little bit of black, but definitely not Mexican.

She didn't even talk like she was Mexican. Usually somebody coming from Mexico at that age would have an accent while speaking English, not her. I heard our teacher say her last name, Gonzales, and that's when I asked her her nationality.

I didnt believe her at first but then she started bustin' out with the Spanish that's when I knew that she wasn't lying.

I was born here -- my mom was born in Mexico and my dad was born in the U.S. I don't have to worry about things like papers. I'm a Mexican American and she's a Mexican. We both have the same blood running through our veins only she was born on the other side of the border.

She acts no different than me and in our group of friends she doesn't get treated any differently. People at school talk to her like they would anybody else. The teachers teach her just like they would anybody else and she learns the material like anybody else would. She's just like me, only she can't work at the same place I can because she doesn't have a card that says she's legally in the United States.

Mark told her that maybe it wouldn't be a problem. "I'll see what I could do," is what he said. We left the BYA and on the way home she was telling me about how she really wanted that job but that she didn't think she was going to get it. I didn't think she was going to get it either but I didn't want to say that. She was feeling bad enough already, the last thing I wanted to do was rub it in. A week later we all got letters notifying us about the job. She didn't get it.
Victoria, 16, is a staff writer fo YO!



Comments
What other people have to say.
Cindy Lou on Mar 16, 2006 00:43:48, said:
I enjoyed your story and am impressed at the fact that at such a young age, you're thinking and acting so mature. That is great to see in young kids these days (I'm alot older, I have a Son alot older than you, so sorry, you're a "kid" to me
If you want to really help your friend, find out what she needs to do to get her Citizenship so she can be here legally and get the papers it takes to work, etc...

I helped someone from Iran study to get his Citizenship, back in 1992, and also helped a guy from Mexico study to get his Citizenship 3 years ago. I was proud to help them and was glad that they wanted to do it the right way. The best thing you could do for your Friend is to help her get 'legal,' then she would have it much easier throughout her lifetime here.
She is very fortunate to have you as a Friend, as someone who is smart and cares enough to think of her and her feelings. You seem like a very sweet and thoughful young Woman, and I am glad she has you as a Friend. Please consider helping her get the papers. Then you both would have something to celebrate, and a bond that would connect you for a lifetime.
Good luck and keep writing, someday you'll possibly be writing a book! I hope so!
~Cindy Lou' in Texas

Maribel Meneses on Feb 21, 2006 21:31:32, said:
This article touched me because like your friend I also am an illegal immigrant. It feels like boo boo when you`ve lived here for so long but you`re treated differently because of where you were born. It makes no sense. don`t you think? We all should be treated equal but I guess people don`t realize that we all came from an immigrant family regardless of what anybody says.

TECC on Feb 16, 2006 21:16:24, said:
MAYBE WE COULDNT COME LEGALLY DON!!!!!!!!!!!! MY PARENTS CAME HERE TO LOOK FOR A BETTER LIFE, I THINK U WOULD FEEL DIFFERENTLY IF YOU WERE IN THAT POSITION!!!!!!!!! I DONT KNOW WHY YOU WOULD SAY THAT?????????

Monica Hernandez on Jul 12, 2004 20:28:32, said:
I really like your article. I was feeling it becasue I like your friend am an Illegal Immigrant. I think your story will show people that Illegal Immigrants like me or your friend are not that different. Other then were we were born.

Don Jackle on Jul 12, 2004 07:53:25, said:
Come to this country legally or leave!

http://www.youthoutlook.org/news/view_a ... 8213a644a6

Originally Posted by April

Don Jackle on Jul 12, 2004 07:53:25, said:
Come to this country legally or leave!

http://www.youthoutlook.org/news/view_a ... 8213a644a6

I second what Don said!

Yeah Buddy, I am so FOR what Don said!

Regardless of her situation she is in this country illegally. No papers, no job!

Exactly but it seems that they all use the...." I am just like everyone else....except I don't have papers." Once again, Illegal is Illegal!

There are a lot of nice jobs in Mexico at good wages for someone with her language skills, call centers and tourist hospitality businesses: hotels, restaurants, car rental and guide services are hiring in Mexico. She can apply there to get back here honorably.

Excellent Advice Richard!