Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Miguel.
Hi Ana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi! My name is Ana, and I was born and raised in San Diego. Both of my parents immigrated from Guanajuato, Mexico, in the mid 80’s. My dad was able to fix his status under the “Regan Amnesty Act” and, from there, fix my mom’s status. I am the youngest of five kids, so by the time I was born, both of my parents were residents. I never had to experience the uncertainty of my parents not coming home.
Growing up in San Diego, I couldn’t escape the topic of immigration. I grew up watching t.v. channels from Tijuana, enjoying the cartoons but also constantly seeing issues occurring on both sides of the border. Whether it was the San Ysidro port of entry, the expansion of the border wall, or smugglers being caught, this is the San Diego I know.
My parents having the opportunity to fix their status is something that many undocumented folks today may never have. My parents, like many others, had to navigate a country that they were not familiar with, a language they didn’t understand, and a culture that pushes individuality when they only knew community.
For a lot of us on the team, this is personal work. I strive to connect with the community we serve, providing a moment of laughter, a care package, or a small sense of hope.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This work takes an emotional toll. Whether it’s seeing the items discarded in the desert/mountains, crying with day laborers who were not expecting to be homeless in the “land of opportunity”, or the inhumanity of the ICE detention centers.
Our Day Laborer Outreach program hits close to home. My grandpa, dad, and some of my uncles were day laborers when they first arrived in San Diego—taking jobs that took a physical toll and long hours in the sun. Thankfully, today, my dad has an OSHA-Certified construction job that provides benefits and a retirement plan.
The jobs many day laborers take are NOT OSHA-Certified, have no contracts, and no benefits. Day Laborers are often congregating outside of Home Depots, waiting for someone shopping to hire them. Day Laborers will get into vehicles with strangers who promise them a job. These jobs rarely meet the minimum wage in San Diego; laborers are often paid less than $8-$10 for their work. A huge reality that occurs is laborers completing a job and not being paid at all.
This community is often subject to discrimination. Racial profiling is huge; laborers are often classified as undocumented. We know that often U.S. citizens are also looking for work around these sites. Racial profiling has caused a lot of fear for these day laborers. Some do not feel comfortable standing out in public. ICE has shown up before, in unmarked vehicles, outside of uniform, pretending to hire laborers. We have seen that laborers have become less trustworthy with new people.
The violence/ hatred for undocumented folks takes a toll. Especially when I see my family represented in these communities.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the Educational Programs Coordinator for Border Angels. I work closely with students of all ages, community members, and other organizations that would like to educate themselves on the realities that we see along the San Diego/ Tijuana border.
I am proud of how I connect with the community. Not just those that we serve but also those that volunteer with us. This work can seem intimidating, especially when working with real people. I try to be as inviting as possible and demonstrate the passion I have for this work. I’m often called passionate when I do a presentation or lead a group. This has helped others feel connected.
Being first-generation has helped me connect closely with high school and college students. Representation truly matters, and I am very proud that sharing my story of feeling lost and finding myself has helped so many others. Sometimes all it takes is knowing that someone relates to what you experienced.
What does success mean to you?
A successful event or day looks like being a resource to someone. Throughout our Day Laborer Outreach program, we distribute care packages and Know Your Rights Cards to the day laborers.
The KYR cards seem a little repetitive at times, but laborers must be aware that these rights apply to citizens and non- citizens alike. These cards have basic information to prevent an unlawful search.
At the beginning of the year, I had done my usual check-ins at the sites that we visit. I had noticed I hadn’t seen a specific laborer in more than 4 months. In February, I ran into him again; he let me know that he had gotten a job in Northern California. He let me know a month before he left San Diego that an ICE raid occurred at this Home Depot site. He was thankful for the KYR card he kept in his wallet, as he was able to present this card to the ICE agent, letting the agent know he was exercising the right to remain silent. Thankfully, this agent respected his rights.
I was so proud that this laborer felt empowered to stand his ground. This demonstrated that holding our monthly volunteer programs is crucial in sharing information, educating laborers on their rights, and how to defend themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.borderangels.org
