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Since the candidate Mitt Romney spoke about his plan to auto-deport from the U.S. millions
of undocumented people, the idea has been discussed and criticized but in the abstract. But, what happens
when we have a name and a last name? Antonio Alarcón is 17 years old. He is an undocumented
student and a month ago, his parents have self-deported. In other words, they had to leave
New York and return to Mexico. And they left...they left Antonio alone.
Not long ago, he wrote an editorial in the New York Times and he said the following:
"I’m living with my uncles, but it is hard for my mother to know that I’m coming home
to a table with no dinner on it, where there had been dinner before. Now that they are in Mexico, I wonder
who will be at my graduation, my volleyball games or my birthday? With whom will I share
my joy or my sad moments? Self-deportation and deportation will result only in dividing families
and driving them into the shadows." With me, via satellite, from the city of New York,
Antonio Alarcón, a 17 year old Mexican student, who recently wrote an article,
a column in the New York Times. Antonio, thank you for talking to us.
Hello, good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you in your program.
Thank you, Antonio. You just wrote in the New York times about the self-deportation of your
parents to Mexico. But, let us start first with your history. When did you arrive to the U.S.,
and how did you arrive?
I arrived here to the U.S. in 2005. It was a very painful situation for me.
I had to walk 3 days and 3 nights in the desert. In fact, as we were crossing
the border, we ran out of water and food. So, we had to drink water, in fact, from the puddles,
not knowing that...from what...from where that water came from. It was very hard.
Antonio, you were living with your parents, of course, in New York. And afterwards,
your parents had to return to Mexico, not long ago. Why? Why return?
Why did they self-deport?
One, is was because of the economical situation which is very difficult here. As I said
in the...in the New York Times, my father had to work only 2 days a week.
Erm...for..Let's say sometimes 12 hours, collecting metal in the city of New York, here.
My mom worked six days and she was paid very little. And...and the other reason was more
important. It was that they had to go and take care of my brother in Mexico, since my
grandparents died.
So, due to financial and personal reasons, they leave New York
towards Mexico. I would like now to speak to Salvador Alarcón and Roberta Acarrión.
Both are with us right now from Mexico City.
Salvador and Roberta, why did you have to leave New York? Salvador.
The finances became very difficult. And then another, another son here in Mexico. And, well, it happens that
when one's mother dies and my father also died. And there was not one to take care of our younger son.
[Ramos] Roberta, how did you come up with this decision? [Roberto] There was a need to leave the country.
[Ramos] Of course. Roberta, how do you make the decision between staying here with your son in Nueva York,
or return to one o your children in Mexico. How does one make that decision?
The decision was hard because to separate is very difficult. But, oh well, one has to do something
for the children also. And we decided to come for the other one who is smaller.
And he needs us more than the other one who is a bit older and he understands the situation.
Not long ago, you took that decision. It was a month ago approximately that...that you
had not seen Antonio. What do you expect from Antonio? He is an illegal immigrant in...in
the U.S. You brought him to the U.S. when he was very young.
What do you expect from Antonio?
Well, that all goes well for him in that county and for him to work hard because the situation is very hard
here in Mexico. He has had the opportunity to be there, he should work hard and continue
ahead. For him to progress now that he has the opportunity to be there.
Salvador, your advice to your son is that he stays in the U.S.
or would you prefer for him to return to Mexico?
Well I, when I came back I told him that we support him because...because he didn't want to come back,
because we had...we sat down, we had a reunion at the table when we had dinner and,
he used to tell me: "Over there, there is no future, dad, and well, here I have more....more goals to move ahead."
Antonio, are you convinced that you have more opportunities in New York, in the U.S.
than you would if went back to your parents in Mexico?
It is...in some ways I feel that the U.S. has given me much, so, I feel I could contribute
by going to the university. I think the U.S. has given me that opportunity to...to excel
in this country.
And what would you tell the politicians, Antonio, who say that...that you do no deserve to be in
the U.S. and you should be deported together with your parents to...to Mexico?
That it is something absurd. Eh...they too...their parents and families came to this country.
They are immigrants, in it self, also. So, that...that they are now against the Laltin community
only because we come to this country, I feel it's something unjust.
Antonio, I would like to finish this interview with you. At the end of your article in the New York Times,
you say: "A young person of my age should not have to go through this."
What would you like to tell your parents, as we end?
Well, that I love them very much and that.... it..it is difficult to live without them. In situations
such as these you...you realize how, when...how much you need your parents.
[Ramos] And if you would like to know what we are referring to when we talk about the auto-deportation,
it is precisely this wrong doing. Antonio Alarcón, from New York. Salvador Alarcón and
Roberta Acarrión from Mexico City. Thank you for talking to us.
[Roberta] No, thank you. I hope people will support my son now that he is alone over there.
It is hard but we need to continue ahead. Maybe because of my husband's situation.
that his parents died. But we must move ahead. There is no other way.
We need to be strong. That is also why we separated but, I tell you,
we have to continue ahead. And may God allow all to go well. I hope he will put the effort
and will...and will achieve the sacrifice that he is doing over there alone. I hope and take care of yourself, son.
I love you very much.
I love you very much too.
[Ramos] Roberta Acarrión and Roberto Alarcón from Mexico City.
Antonio Alarcón from New York. Thank you again for speaking with us.
We will return with more here in 'Al Punto'
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