Hugo Muñoz and Lauren Card

00:02 My name is Lauren card. I just turned 24 and today is the 27th of April 2019 and we are and Eugene Oregon at the uo Natural Museum of Natural History and I am here with my boyfriend either.

00:23 My name is Nicholas and I am 26 years old and today is April 27th, 2019 and we are in Eugene, Oregon and I and I am here with my girlfriend Lauren.

00:39 So tell me about who you are. Where did you come from? So I was born in Mexico Veracruz and the Gulf Coast and I grew up in a sugarcane production town. So my town depended on that.

01:03 My

01:05 I guess run up there was really fun. Cuz all I did was play soccer go to school it mangoes and

01:14 And good tortillas.

01:17 You still don't like mangoes today cuz they're not as good right but I just don't like him anymore. So my mom received a phone call and my dad was basically telling my dad was telling my mom that we were going to move to the United States. And I remember that they specifically because my mom look concerningly confused and I didn't know all that time what that meant for me during the whole process. I remember specifically am putting everything away from my house where I live and where I grew up and

02:00 I think the hardest thing was kind of him at that at that time. I was 10 years old or right after I just turned eleven actually.

02:09 And I remember putting my toys away and kind of packing everything and thinking that I was going to take everything with me. Obviously that was not the case.

02:20 So there in that whole process them. It was weird. Just kind of telling everyone goodbye and everyone looking concerning still didn't understand why we were moving to another place.

02:33 Talk about your experience coming here as an undocumented immigrant. The main reason why my Dad decided to bring us to the United States was because I'm sure, sure companies in Mexico War not as productive as American companies because of that NAFTA trade agreement. So that was taking a lot of a lot of jobs out of my town away because of that cuz we couldn't compete against American prices. So the town was kind of slowly dying and people only will work about 6 months out of the year. So we move out there to find a better opportunity. But at the same time the drug war was picking up at that time specifically because

03:25 The location that we are in so coming to the United States. It was really interesting valleys hurt me. I would say I've been living here so that I remember the most that was the one thing that I do remember was driving away from my town and my grandparents crying and me not knowing that I was probably going to be the last time that I will see them in my mom crying and my uncles and cousins and everyone being there and me taking only a few things with me and we drove up to the airport and from the airport we landed and in

04:08 Tijuana are close to the area and that's where we were for a couple days and I still didn't understand what was going on and that was here with that my mom brother and sister and a couple other people from my town there was probably about five or eight of us from that other kids to the other Wes another kid. My age asked me he was he was 11. And when I remember that like really specific cuz I think I was really excited to go to a new place because my biggest thing was I can't wait to tell stories to my friends and my grandparents and my family when I come back

04:55 And

04:57 I just remember one night. We got a lot of things together. They tell us that we couldn't take everything. So we took small bags and lot of water bottles and there was probably and it just tell us to be ready. We were in the hotel some random place and someone picked us up in a van in the middle of the night and he drove for a couple.

05:20 Jose minutes and then he just dropped us off in the middle of the desser. And then I was still come peace of a whole is going on at that time and didn't understand what the dangers of what I was doing was that relaxing and I remember just holding my mom's hand looking her concern in.

05:37 Everyone looked concerning their own was trying to be really quiet and then we started walking the desert for about two days. You tell me when your brother and sister are crossed the border. So your mom it was just you and your mom brother and sister because they were younger did you went across the border and they were just basically say that they were born in the United States. I'm so I was unfortunately I guess I was old enough to walk to the desert tribes able to talk to him answer questions from Asians too. So, I think that was the reason why I had to walk to the besser and also my mom they said the

06:24 The people that were crossing us across the border. They said that they could try that way, but I will have to wait to hang out with them literally for 3 days and my mom was didn't want me to leave me behind while she was crossing the desert. Did you ever get a sense from your mom that she was nervous or scared about?

06:45 Basically letting somebody else.

06:49 Trusting somebody else to get her babies across the border and then I'll you said that.

06:55 Obviously she would be scared about walking through the desert with an eleven-year-old. But did you ever get a sense that you know, she was worried. I'm having a chest somebody else with her babies pretty much I think so. I think she did and I mean that it wasn't until like later when I got older that I cannot think about like the big sacrifice on my mom did to do that in Canton trust random people to take care of your kids out and I realized like wow my mom's pretty brave to do that number one, but I remember crossing the border in just like the fear in her face at specifically. That's one of my biggest thing that I remember crossing the border just because I remember trying to make it seem like I was fine for the most part because I didn't want her to have to worry about more things to the badass. I have so much respect.

07:52 Or maybe till I was 20 years old. My brother was around 5 and my sister was to

08:04 Do you know how old your mama's she was in her forties? Not very specific age number.

08:15 So how did you end up in from the border to Oregon so specifically about the Border story?

08:29 So we walked through the border for about 2 days.

08:34 And one of the things that I remember specifically was how hot it was and all the cuts in my faces and arms from the trees and brushes that you will walk through and so every day when the sun will come out cuz I watched it today. So let's sun will come out it was it would just burn in your face and you can feel it go through your body knows it's a weird sensation and you can feel the sand or the Dust Landing in your cuts and then kind of staining a little bit and I remembered the other kid who was also the same age as me. He was crying the whole time and

09:14 He didn't seem like he he was exhausted and his mom was freaking out because she was like, I don't think he's going to make it and and then we happened there basically all that water that we had there. When was caring for that one kid and then

09:33 Specifically for me because I was just trying to pretend like nothing was wrong with me because I don't want my mom's for a butt towards her last day. I remember specifically that I could not do it anymore and my mom started freaking out and this is a long time ago now, but did you have a moment that you can remember thinking? Why are we doing this? What is this worse for the suffering? I don't think I was old enough to think that was a fun adventure. I think I think I think I was just like

10:07 If something my mom told me to do and that's what I was doing. I was following my mom the last couple days. It was pretty much had enough that I think the the last thing I remember specifically because we were going up a mountain and one of the guys have to carry me up the place and the cuz I couldn't do that and then I remember laying down on the ground and my mom grabbing him. I don't know we found some blankets and she put on top of my face and I just remember passing out actually and I that I mean my mom talked about it briefly, but she said that at that point she was thinking about just running to some road so that way it's someone would pick us up and then I woke up in a van before after that. I don't remember anything. I remember waking up in a van and I was so dehydrated and I don't know how bad it was, but it was I guess bad enough that the guy

11:07 Rites a to risk everyone's going to be deported back again because it had to stop by at Walmart to get a gatorade for me to talk to their mom now that you're older and then she's older having conversations with her about her feelings on that trip. We hardly ever talk about it. Just kind of traumatic for her and me, so we just kind of avoided

11:31 So you are coming to Van had to get you a Gatorade and your dad was an organ or was going after the van. We got dropped avenue hotel and

11:48 Yeah, I know we got drop in the hotel and I remembered specifically since I was the that was one of the younger ones then there was another female there that she was younger. They asked us to go to the store and buy some food for everyone. So I remember specifically on the first time. I mean, it's almost like a movie when I first came to the United States to remember a crossing the street in Mexico. You really don't have streets where you're allowed to go across and it's funny cuz it like it is like a movie. I remembered him driving a convertible yellow convertible and he was wearing a cowboy hat and he looked at me and said

12:33 And he way for me to let me cross the street and I was like, well, I guess this is what America is all about it when I was a little kid. I'm like I want to be like that guy someday. I remember that and after that my dad drove us back to Oregon so we have

12:52 Uncles that are US citizens already. So they were living in Oregon and when we first arrived to Salem, Oregon, we live with my aunt for a couple months before we could afford to get enough money to get an apartment for my mom and dad and brother and sister. So am I in this house? We share a very tiny apartment of two bedroom apartment and we have probably about I don't know a people we've been there and I don't know how we managed that but we we made it work.

13:26 So that was kind of my experience crossing the border in the can I come in to Oregon. So what would you say your first impressions? Were you asked in Oregon? And cuz you went right into the public school system. So what were your first impressions of school and being I guess in American and Oregon, I think at that time I was still kind of understanding things and things didn't process cuz I thought it was just going to be like a trip and then go back but didn't seem like it after 1 year, but I think the

14:09 I didn't understand all that time. Like I'm going to have to learn a new language that have to understand, you know, a new culture a new a new home and can I get used to all that? So I was still processing a lot of things and through Middle School. I was mainly learning the language that was like my main focus and it was strange because I was always separated from the group cuz I have to take ESL classes to learn the majority of

14:45 I think this is strange because I mean you have to do things separately than everybody else like obviously cuz I had to learn the language first and that's the size that you were different today. I mean night.

14:59 I remembered. Yeah, I like.

15:01 When I first get introduced to school and everyone was Wyatt, not nobody look like me and I was the first let me know what that mean. That was the only person in that school and I remember me waving at them and the teacher said something but I don't know what he said.

15:19 So what are there any things you can pick out specifically in your mind was a little 11 year-old, you know fresh from Mexico row that were like what the heck why do people do this? Like we are in the car and what were some Impressions that you had that were like and where cuz weird I don't think anything. I think I really have to embrace the culture in a way cuz I really wanted to number one. I was still trying to understand this new country. And I mean I didn't had the assumptions at like I think now we do that, you know where people come for the American dream. I still didn't understand what that meant until probably got to Middle.

16:07 You know the Mexican I think so, I think that I was still trying to fit in and trying to understand that so I wasn't really

16:19 Do you think it was harder for your parents being that they were on your dad had been here a couple times right? Because he was working and sending money back to do think it was harder for your mom may be specifically being that they are older and have more connections to their Mexican heritage. You think it was harder for them to feel like they belong here mean a lot of the times when they will never come to school to certain things, but they wouldn't always come because I feel like they just feel like they don't fit in her stomach understanding didn't know what they were saying. So I don't think they've didn't want to come I think it was just like just that they don't belong in the language barrier and all this other things cuz I mean a lot of the times you might want to get an award or something what's on my parents don't come cuz I know it's this

17:14 My parents want to come but then they will feel strange because obviously the language barrier.

17:21 So

17:22 How do you think?

17:26 What is you do to belong in the zoo culture that you were a part of? How did you kind of insert yourself as the special? You know, because I was really interested while Mexican how does you insert yourself into your culture and Salem while the prevailing culture in Salem? How did you become part of your phone? I think a lot of

17:53 So when it started learning English, I think one of the other was two things that I kind of used to help me. Learn English was learning about American history and

18:07 Keeping up with the news that were happening at that time. So obviously

18:12 There was a lot of talk them in those early years in 2003 and not and all the way up about how immigrants were kind of bringing problems. They were bad people and they're only doing bad things or a country.

18:30 So that's kind of why I realized that I really wanted to fit in because I started to love my community and I wanted to be part of the community. So I think it in middle school is when everything started coming together and realize that if I wanted to fit in then I want I thought I had to be more involved in the community and I started to know why my parents brought me to this country. I think specifically was even though they may be totally different than me. I kind of related to the sacrifices the Americas did to keep the country what it is today and also the founding fathers because they were some of them were immigrants and some of them were not entitled that time to be cold American. So I wanted to show that an American can be anybody so that was kind of challenge that I took off to took on in high school and middle school.

19:29 Did you ever have a moment where you thought like this is that I've made it I am an American as much as you could be.

19:39 Yeah, I think so. I think when so

19:44 One of the things that I really wanted to do was attend a top school or a military academy at that time. I started looking at their requirements because I was like I said, that's the most American thing you can do. So I started looking at the requirements of what type of students would qualify for that and obviously they needed someone that was really involved in your community someone that was academically like the rest really good academically and the work just known as the leader so

20:21 And high school I decided to get involved with my volunteer for the police department. One of the things that I notice about being involving the police department wants that they require for you to be able to your to be cop to be a citizen and obviously as an undocumented person make in the United States, you never want to let everyone know that you're undocumented and you never want to even talk to police officer because you're you could essentially be deported if they start asking that citizen Citizenship question, so

20:57 I remember telling my parents I really wanted to apply for to become a police cadet in my town and my dad and mom were like no because if you do this we can get deported and send back to Mexico and you don't have a Social Security number. I was the issue that I don't have a Social Security number. I didn't have an idea to have anything of that.

21:18 So I asked my parents like multiple times. I mean took me for months and then they will always say no and at the same time I had to build a really strong relationship with my school resource officer, and he really wanted me to be part of that program and he will come to my class said he would be walking down the street. He'll pull his police car on the road and be like hey when I get to turn the application, but at that time I didn't want to tell him the reason why was not turning in the application and then finally one day and my dad before he went to work before he went to work. He wrote me a letter and said hey, I'm not going to stop stop you from accomplishing your dreams. So if you feel like

22:08 You want to do this and we get deported. It doesn't matter because we're going to make this choice of the family, but you have to tell the officer that we are knocking at it. So.

22:18 I remember me and my mom and I called the office and I was like, hey, I really want to turn in the application to you and I really want to be part of this park. I'm about there something I have to tell you before I turn in the application said Remember the officer came to my house went into the apartment. And my mom was there. My mom was nervous. I was really nervous cuz I was like man I can get deported once want to tell him that I'm in documenting and I wasn't sure what was going to happen and also came into my house. Do you have to tell me and then I was like, hey, I really want to be part of this but I am undocumented.

22:56 And he said what do you mean and I'm like like I'm not supposed to be here legally and he looked at me and he would look at my mom and he was confusing didn't say anything for about 5 seconds and I was really scared and had he just looked at me and said, I don't know what that means and and I said well just means that I don't have a Social Security number. I'm not I could get deported it or something like that. And he said well, I don't know if that disqualifies you from the program, but I will talk to the police chief.

23:31 And he said and I will give you a call back and let you know and I was like, he's probably going to be like, nope. You can't do it and two weeks went by and three weeks went by and he gave me a call and said turn in your application your arcade doing this program.

23:48 So when he said that

23:51 How many felt like I had to win $1000000 because I said they have I guess in some way they allow me to do that. So maybe not having a social security or being born in this country will be a barrier for me at that time. And I remember when I went through all the interviews obviously as an undocumented person. Sometimes my parents will not drive to the police station. So they will have a friend who is a US citizen drive me there and drop me off there and don't for interview process. I would had officers that came to my house and then give us a whole background.

24:30 Background search that they did on me.

24:33 And I remember when finally I sit down with the chief and the captain and the chief pull out Twilight some gold coin that he gave me and said, hey. You're now part of the family and I mean it probably didn't mean a lot of them, but when I went home and I went home crying cuz I was like well like I can accomplish my dreams doesn't matter where you're born. So from that experience, it just opened many doors in my community from volunteering to the fire department and being able to hear there and then joining the military program in my high school. So I became really involved in my community and in high school.

25:17 I mean, I was I went from ESL classes my freshman year to honors classes just over two months and started competing in math math competitions.

25:29 I started getting really abominable volunteer like about a hundred hours a month and I will do good in classes go to football practice or basil or whatever the case wasn't and I will walk 2 miles home because my dad and mom didn't have driver's licenses and I didn't want him to take the risk of them driving and couldn't get poor there for me, you know for from picking me up from me football practice or after school activity or one of my volunteer programs even work for the police has your experience with applying for the police program. Was that your moment cuz I know a lot of undocumented people have a moment, but we students wear something happens where

26:14 They realize that I don't have a Social Security number and all the sudden everything kind of becomes apparent. I know a lot of people is when they're playing for college and they have to put a social security number and all the sudden their parents or by the way, you're undocumented. Was that kind of your moment that you realize that you were undocumented where you pretty aware your whole life that you were different and you were going to have all these challenges high after that. I think I became oblivious. I love being undocumented because I I thought that maybe they will make a exception for me.

26:48 Because I was so involved in the comedian I was doing so well and how is like, maybe they will make an exception for me. So it wasn't until I started getting closer to graduation in high school when

27:01 Everything went downhill like I went into like a really big depression for like two two years. I will say my starting my senior year of high school because people will come from the community be like hey Hugo. So, where are you going to school? Are you planning to go to Harvard West Point your congressman's writing you letters to be like hey, if you want to know Malaysian will do it and everyone sending you letters of like hate you are an example to younger used and what not. And I that time I've had not told actually nobody knew that I was undocumented of that time, but everyone was like pushing me so hard to go to college or or in a star applying for scholarships and it wasn't until like I realize like I went to my first scholarship interview where I went in there and the first question they asked me was you a US citizen and I said No, and then that just got really weird with the people that were asking me that question.

28:01 Who is it affordable? You don't qualify for this scholarship and then it was the same thing with other scholarships just getting declined cuz I don't have a Social Security number and then also colleges was like why you don't qualify for any of our scholarships here and then and it's all a lie to people that I was like, oh I'm applying and you know, like I haven't heard from their schools or this and that and I was also didn't have a driver's license for that time, which I couldn't get one so I couldn't go to see if I can do it actor and go see the movies or just certain things without an ID or something. That would say how old I was.

28:40 So it was pretty restricted up a lot of things and that's when I realized that.

28:45 And I was like well now I understand what it means to be undocumented and realizing that I work so hard and I minimize any.

28:57 Anything from stopping me what I wanted to do, but unfortunately was my citizenship and my social security is going to hit a wall. Whatever you do, you know the police chief city council everyone trying to figure something out for me and they try to hire at turn these and talked to them and attorneys were like we can't do anything.

29:18 So how did those experiences and even your cultural background? How does that shape your work for advocating for immigration reform and deferred action when that was introduced I think because I want to know.

29:37 And when the depression and I started working the fields where but I will stay where you actually see the Injustice is of being undocumented that kind of

29:47 Let me realize that this was a bigger problem than than me, obviously.

29:56 I am working with undocumented people.

29:59 From 6 a.m. All the way to 9 p.m. You know working in a group of five people caring.

30:07 Bags that are 50 lb into another 200 all the way to 400000 lb worth of grass seed. I mean you're exhausted every night. I did football training and I did some basic training from like the military program that I did and realized I was really hard labor and watching people who were 70 60 kind of showing up every day and having the same the same energy to do that every single day Monday through Saturday, if sometime Sunday that was amazing to me and

30:44 I think I started to realize that I started to see more Injustice is when

30:49 There was this guy who got in a car accident and she had a broken leg and showed up to work the next day riding a bike because he knew that if you miss work, he was going to get fired either one of those are obviously I didn't have health care and then know some other guy who is 70 she had back problems, but had to lift those bags to make sure that you could feed his family and then there was another guy who'd cut his finger in the machine and they were just like your fire and to me it was like really hard to see all that because

31:29 I don't know it was hard because

31:36 The people to

31:39 Christian movie Crash

31:47 So those experiences were what led you to fight for immigration reform take me up there?

32:03 And I remember to come up.

32:07 You know seeing their faces and realize that.

32:10 That the address was there once I started talking to them more about know they wanted to be teacher police officers doctors.

32:21 But I really didn't get to do that.

32:25 So I remember one day I remember one day just busy lifting a bag and

32:32 My hands are tired. They were is super hot was a super hot day ever met that specifically.

32:38 Cuz I don't think people should be working in such a hot environment but is a hot day. I was leaving a bag and my fingers were just bleeding from just lifting the bags and grabbing the really hard cuz it's actually when you get tired with your hands you start, and using over your head you start grasping it that way they don't slip with your hands, but then eventually your hands and start cutting and breaking down because obviously the bag start. Just a specific type that just will cut through your skin and they were just bleeding and

33:19 I was just, like this is not right then.

33:23 This is why people shouldn't go through this and even though that

33:28 This can be at a job for someone is your they shouldn't be treated like animals.

33:35 So that was your inspiration behind.

33:39 Advocating for immigration reform and getting involved. I literally quit the job. So I just kind of walked off and then just left then I rode the bus back home when I thought about it. I was like, what am I going to do next? So the first thing that I did was come and look at organizations that we're doing that work and fortunately something came up on the TV that they were saying organization hosting a meeting at the state capitol.

34:09 So I should have my first day there.

34:13 And I just talked to the executive director at that time of Kaza, Oregon and said hey, I would really love to be involving organization and I want to be part of the movement of driver's licenses about time in 2012 2011.

34:34 You said okay, and I'm at first I think they thought I was a

34:41 A US citizen because of prior to

34:47 Because they will see me at the Capitol sometimes and I will see them do not talk about driver's license farmworker rides and and I will going into the captain and Lobby for big businesses or hard things like that. Cuz I was part of a program that mentors young kids to lobby for business understand the importance of business in a community.

35:12 And that's how it was. That was a good citizen for like I will always ask him to be involved but they will never pay attention to me until finally I brought an email to them and I was like, hey, I'm undocumented to and this is what I'm going through. So when the first two things that I got involved with at that time was driver's license that will allow undocumented people to have a driver's license and tuition Equity fishing Equity will allowed for anyone. That's what's an undocumented and graduated from an Oregon high school to be eligible for in-state tuition in any Oregon University.

35:50 So in 2012, we started organizing started working really hard to make sure that we passed those legislative bills to make sure that they became lost. I guess he will not just cuz he will benefit undocumented families in Oregon. So so we me and two other organizers. We took on the challenge to advocate for that at the state capitol and we work long hours from 6 a.m. Until 9 p.m. Talking to legislators a talking to

36:30 PeopleNet communities and building more momentum to make sure that those are that we got those Paso.

36:40 During that time I have.

36:44 Obviously nobody at that time I was not had not sure there was undocumented. And the first time that I said, I was undocumented of the state capitol the media was there and

36:56 My story just kind of spread it everywhere and I think what

37:02 Got the idea of everybody was that I'm in Holland bulb. I wasn't the community about time. So everyone was like looking at me because I want this kid is really loving his undocumented and has an oldest thing in our community and

37:26 Yasso

37:28 When I first saw that I was undocumented and hit the news.

37:33 It was funny because

37:36 2 days later. I used to volunteer at a city council also City youth counselor. And that's it. He decided to change their their Ordnance to make sure that if you were undocumented you cannot volunteer to any City programs in their city. So like the police. But I did the fire program that I did and the city council programme. I will not if somebody was undocumented would not be able to volunteer and them and it in those specific cramps anymore that two days after you and I have to run document all the sudden the city makes that were news the commons of the counselors made at that time. Their justification was like well

38:30 We don't want to make him dream something that he can't be Saturday. And that was their the reason why they were making those changes and then they would say that it was not just about me but I am the only document person that was a council full of older white people. I live in a pretty conservative town which they have the one of the two of the most conservative people in the whole state of Oregon for some reason and that's how did this is super conservative even though it's surrounded by a lot of progressive and liberal places. But yeah and

39:11 Let me go straight to the nearest wanted to because at the same time when they were voting for that law and the city next to the city of Keizer and Salem Off The King awarded the Youth of the Year award like the same night and it was funny cuz like the reporters call me the next day. They're like, hey, what do you think about the city ordinance? And I might have no idea.

39:31 And I was like I can't comment on it cuz I haven't looked at it but it was pretty ironic that they did that. So when after I said it wasn't documented I started sending emails to all the programs that I was involved with and letting everyone know I hate if you don't like that I'm undocumented. I will resign from your phone to your programmers and I felt like I was like

39:55 Like I was going to have a lot of people be a be like yeah, we wanted to resign but a lot of people are very supportive. I think specially that

40:03 The two that surprised me was like, I believe the line forsman sector in the business sector that came in big supporter of me and they were like we're going to make sure that they know that we don't agree with this and I was leaving the air of the other town to I will send letters to that City, specifically but

40:24 We that we haven't said I think that's kind of why my story got really picked up in Oregon and that's why they started really pushing my story. So I kind of was weird cuz because I became like the phase of tuition equity and driver's license in the state of, Oregon.

40:43 And

40:47 And it was I mean, the pressure was really hard because

40:53 You're trying to do no Advocates of these legislators about why this is so important for you, but people wouldn't take you serious or someone make really racist comments and you realize that

41:04 I mean people talk to them about certain things and they would

41:08 It's like they wouldn't care about your family. They want to care about making the right choice and they will make comments like

41:17 Like I should have been there school. So I shouldn't be taking advantage of this or I shouldn't be like like I was asking for entitlements when the only thing I was asking for that time was two number one legally be able to drive in the state of Oregon and number to be able to pay in-state tuition. I demand that didn't come with any financial help or anything or receiving entitlements that are you know, you're saved by a real American citizen youth you literally had no entitlement or just asking to have an ID some way of identifying yourself and have the same chance of going to college.

41:58 Then and I mean it was really that was really spoiled for me to Hennessy really young people a specific specifically young Latinos and those kind of helping support all this which we built like tuition Equity driver's license with a massive position where we had Lyme Foresman Church businesses in support of this, isn't it just made sense and obviously tuition Equity passing 2012 and driver's license.

42:30 Stop spell we tried again in 2013, but it got referendum. But yeah, I think when

42:40 When I was fighting for tuition Equity, you know that it was

42:44 In the bill pass

42:46 I was really excited because I was and I can go to college but I think the biggest thing was that won't harm. I going to afford college. So when DACA was introduced in 2012, how did that change your life and your future?

43:03 Yeah, I think after like in 2012 DACA was introduced.

43:08 It is open doors for obviously for me number one. So I said I could finally drive. So what did you what entitlements did you get from deferred action them the things I got from the fraction, which may seem very little was obviously the number one thing is to not be deported number two will be some states at least in Oregon. We are allowed to drive and then also be able to work in the United States legally for certain jobs. So I didn't from you when I when I got there Social Security. The first thing that I went to do was get my driver's license and then how did that feel when you got that privilege? I think once I got my driver's license and I was

43:54 I was driving then. I mean I was started crying because I was like, well, I don't like my parents.

44:00 I was like, I don't have to fear getting pulled over to drive somewhere and I never realized how stuck I had been in my town that I didn't really get to explore really experience or I cannot see like other things than just kind of go to school go to work and things like that cuz you're always so worried about you not getting the porter or getting pulled over someone just so

44:26 So

44:28 Comfort

44:38 If there's anything that you definitely want to share I know we're going to the doctor conversation. So if you want to continue talking about that were few and then you mentioned you had wanted to talk about interracial couple and like to help older person in your community who still active.

44:58 So we can hear.

45:05 David Meehan, well, I will say that my first impression of you I coming from a fairly insulated space. I had no idea anything about being documented come from a family of immigrants that my grandparents were post-war Americans so that a lot more Privileges and looking for a white educated country is so you're my human resources that I grew up with were different than yours. So I actually Google do before I think our second date and everything came up about your activism in what you had done for your community and the sacrifices you have made.

45:45 And even this whole story that we've been going through.

45:51 I had a lot of respect for you for what you had done and how you chose to fight for stuff that would help these bills and referendums that would help others achieve their dreams. Not that you know, I know you talked about a lot even in other things that your goal is to build up the community around you as well and I think hearing your story of you've been pretty effective at that even amidst the challenges and struggles that you've had bring in a document in person. So I have a lot of respect for you in terms of that and I think that your story is really important.

46:39 I think your story is really important and I admire the fact that you chosen to.

46:49 So, I don't know if you want to talk about anything more in terms of life now and and what you do now.

46:59 Saudi I think

47:02 One of the things that I that has been interesting about kind of dating you has been kind learning about your family, especially your Dutch family and seeing how your family is specifically values that whole immigrant story and learning about their stories of you know there in World War II and then coming to America and traveling here and then you realize that I'm in bed. At least for me. I have realized it's not just like

47:28 Everyone in America's in American is that everyone in America has an immigrant story and realized that there's so much value went when you talk about that and so many things that we can overcome if we acknowledge that. We're not just heard that there's not just Americans who are just born here and that's it. It's just there's so much history and Rich this about their culture and what not. And I think it's special to get to share being a part of two cultures with someone cuz it's not often that I mean is a white person's not often that I meet people who also grew up and families that spoke English second language in another culture that was probably in their family as well. And so I think for me it's been special to share that you have flying to multiple different identities while you know, this is what they like to call Great Melting Pot. So I think it's been really special to share that with you and I think you've changed my views on you know, like you said that American can be anybody.

48:28 And that even the people that you know, Tricia Lee wouldn't be considered American deserve rights to and deserve to be treated like like everybody else on like my family was was welcomed with open arms when they came here struggling post-war and cheering for a future that wasn't there for them and their country. They were welcomed with open arms and treated just like everybody else because of the color of their skin and the place where they came from. So for me, it's been kind of a Viewpoint shift that I really am lucky to have what I have and be where I am and you

49:10 Your story is kind of opened my eyes on on that perspective. So it's been special to

49:19 Share that with you. It's intimidating to be with somebody who's basically a local celebrity, but I wouldn't change it for anything and I figure one of the I think that thing about dating and obviously it's because I think I'm doing all the I guess organizing and all the changes that I have trying to do in my community and I'm always living in fear and kind of just uncertainty of like the precedents and over going to deport you tomorrow. We're going to cancel. Gower. Oh my God is the judge or this and that it's working through the doctor and see if it's unconstitutional or what not. I think I'm dating your husband, you know, really what I needed to come and do some self care and you know, even though

50:15 Maybe I'm taking class step back from all the things that I've done at the has been good because eventually I want to go back again and do a lot more and and finally like kind of having that certain day and feeling comfortable and not feeling worried and I mean, it's been special kind of learning from you and all the things that you have thought me besides that cuz before I did a year was just I was just like super uncertain about my future and kind of what I was doing happen to me and I think now that I'm with you. Can I learn about cooking wines and beer and good food and experience in that as well put me in a different. I guess. I'm a different person now now that I appreciate and love the things about you know,

51:06 The little things that make a really special so that has been has been a learning experience for me cuz even though I'd like to say that

51:17 I've been trying to become an American I think like you're kind of helping me do that even more because you know, I'd knock at the door could mean anything for you and I share a home now and I've spent time with your family and experiencing that fear that you are through everyday as an undocumented person that I don't have any any semblance of understanding. I think the fact that we can share.

51:52 Going through life together and letting read each other in each other's culture. I think that helps take away some of that.

52:00 Beer that lingers with Autumn certainty

52:10 Thank you for inviting me even though I knew that story. It gets me every time. Thank you for asking. I'm grateful to have you with me and sharing that story with you, and then you have a sense of humor and that you're always happy.