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My Immigration Story
| Jennifer Zurko
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>> Published Date: 6/25/2012
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 I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Mexican immigrants.
Most of you don’t know I’m half Mexican. My maternal grandparents, Manuel and Esperanza, are both from Mexico and settled in the United States to make a better life. My grandmother was actually born in the States—outside of Wichita, Kansas—but spent most of her young adult life in the city of Morelia in Michoacán, Mexico. We still have family there.
My grandfather is a World War II veteran. He and his family walked to the border from La Noria in the state of Guanajuato. He was only 10 years old. Back then, you could just cross the bridge, he said. He came to Chicago and worked odd jobs to support his two younger brothers, who were both living in a local orphanage after both of their parents died. He enlisted in the U.S. army in 1945 and was stationed in North Africa during the war. He earned his citizenship for fighting for the United States.
They met while he was on leave in Chicago and were married in Mexico in 1946, right after the war; they celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this past February.
Although they both have been back to Mexico many times (not as much lately since they’re in their 90s now), they knew that they wanted to make America their home. During family meals, my grandfather talks often about his experiences in America and why he decided to risk his life to come here. He could have been kidnapped—or worse—but the endeavor was worth it. He’s grateful for the life he was able to build here and I know he remembers that in his novenas he and my grandmother say every night.
Francisco Castillo and Catalino Mendoza are Mexican immigrants, too. And they crossed the border into the United States for the same reasons my grandfather came over. Thirty years ago, it was easier for Mexicans to come for work at the farms, ranches and dairies. And it was a win-win for everyone. The workers made more money and were treated better; the employers had a good staff that kept the business running.
I don’t have to tell you that times have changed. Many of you are dealing with mounding paperwork and labor shortages because of new legislation and stricter border patrol. And yes, I do hear the stories of greenhouse operations that have had run-ins with Immigration Customs Enforcement, which I’m sorry to say have been more frequent lately.
I didn’t just want to spout off facts and figures from the talking heads on Capitol Hill. I talked to growers, but all of you know their stories or have had similar experiences. I wanted to get the story from the workers’ points of view. So Francisco and Catalino were kind enough to sit down and answer my questions.
And, as always in our July issue, we’ve also included highlights from this year’s California Spring Trials toward the back and meeting in the middle with Green Profit.
We’re also including a new feature in our In Brief news section. Dr. Charlie Hall, the renowned horticulture economist from Texas A&M, will be providing a tidbit of information about the industry and the economic climate every month. Kinda like USA Today, but not on the front page.
I hope you enjoy our extended issue this month and learn something from my talk with Francisco and Catalino. I certainly did and for that I extend a muy grandes gracias a ellos por su ayuda … and their patience with my broken Spanish.
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