Living the American Dream under the table, over immigration reform
An undocumented entrepreneur’s challenges to success
“Honestly, I have nothing to ask of them.” Business owner, Alex Lopez responded to a question of what he would ask of his local representatives.
Living the life of an undocumented entrepreneur
Lopez emigrated from Guatemala to the United States, studied English for six months, built his own company from the ground up, and is living the life many Latinos would consider the American Dream.
His company’s success began during the time Lopez’s spent learning English at school. After learning what Lopez's specialization was, his teacher became his first paid client. In class, he met people from different cultures and was forced to learn English to connect with them.
Like most business owners, Lopez was not recognized for his skills and did not start off with a list of clients, but he was able to secure a job three hours away from Houston. That’s the first time Lopez experienced discrimination.
He experienced discrimination based on his age. Those who hired him were doubtful of his ability to finish the work he promised.
Despite the challenges Lopez faced, he completed the job. His final work surprised the clients so much that they invited him for Thanksgiving.
That’s when Lopez’s business skyrocketed.
Lopez recalls being the only Hispanic at the gathering. There, he met a lot of people who needed his business services and wanted to hire him. “It was an unforgettable experience”, says Lopez, “I had never been so excited, it was like my brain reached another level. It feels great when you get to do the things you want.”
As a business owner, having a list of clients meant he would live the American Dream he always imagined.
Lopez does not report to an employee to clock-in hours or to review his work, instead, he depends on himself to find a source of income. His decision to live as an entrepreneur in America eliminated a challenge many face: to find a job that will hire them without documentation.
Waiting on immigration reforms that may never come
During a Local Voices Network conversation, members of the community of Houston shared how working without legal documents for an employer limits possibilities. At times workers are exploited and threatened to be deported. Due to their limitations, they are forced to hope in the government to bring change and not deprive them of the opportunities others are born with.
Kevin Cedillo, a community member, shared that there are people like himself who have lived in the U.S. for 20 to 40 years, and the immigration system has made it difficult for them to obtain residency or citizenship. Cedillo says there are people who go through the immigration process and wait 30 years to get an answer.
“To me, it’s hard to believe there might be changes, because we’re talking about the United States, everything is like a business here,” says Cedillo, “I don’t believe there will be a lot of change in the next five years.”
According to American Progress, the U.S. immigration system has not improved for 30 years. Not modernizing the legislation is affecting 10.4 million non-citizens, and the U.S. is depriving its economy.
Unfortunately, the immigration system restricts many workers from advancing economically. They are forced to work ‘under the table’ over immigration reforms to reach their goals in America, but it’s necessary they “pay their taxes every year and follow the law,” reports Paralegal and Office Manager of a law firm in Houston, Lucero Carmona Santos.
Undocumented individuals can follow the law by not committing criminal offenses, maintaining a clean background, and paying their taxes.
Santos says every worker has the right to be whatever they want to be, whether they’re legal or not because they have worked hard.
While reforms remain stagnant, many workers have developed the same mindset as Lopez: “I have nothing to ask of them,” as they have adapted working around the immigration system in order to provide for their families, grow financially, flee persecution, and live the dreams many came here for.
Prediction: If the U.S. Citizenship Act became a law
According to a report, if the U.S. Citizenship Act became law today, business owners like Lopez, would have a pathway to citizenship and boost the U.S. economy by creating more than 400,000 new jobs in the next 10 years.
Employees like Cedillo will have an opportunity to earn citizenship and make it possible for U.S. Gross Domestic Products to boost by $1.7 trillion. American workers will “see their annual wages increase by $700,” in the next 10 years.
The bill suggests everyone has the right to “humanity and American values,” even immigrants.
