Marlo Rodriguez is a 24-year-old illegal immigrant in Virginia—euphemistically called “undocumented” by the press and other politically correct operatives. He came to Northern Virginia 16 years ago, when he was only 8. His parents, together with two younger siblings—who at the time were 6 and 5—brought him into this country.
In 1991, Marlo's parents came from Mexico to the United States seeking a better life. They overstayed their legal tourist visa in order to subsist. Marlo's father works as a day laborer in construction, and Marlo's mother works on her own as a maid. Marlo's 22- and 21-year-old siblings have been working for fast food chains since they were teenagers. No one in the Rodriguez family has ever been involved in crime, drugs, maras or other criminal activities. They are trusted hard-workers and their employers love them and take good care of them. The family rents a two-bedroom apartment in a mostly Latino-populated area in Northern Virginia.
When Marlo was 12, a caring Baptist church through a Vacation Bible School reached to him. He accepted the Lord, was baptized and has remained a member of that church until now. Some time later his two siblings came to the Lord through Marlo's testimony. Even if nominally, his parents have remained Roman Catholic. From time to time, however, they visit Marlo's Baptist church and worship with him there.
Perhaps the most intelligent and prosperous member of his family, Marlo didn't want to conform to a life of manual work and decided to study. After high school, while working, he paid for his college education and completed community college. Not only was Marlo not eligible for financial aid, he had to pay out-of-state tuition because he could not prove he was a Virginia resident.
Now Marlo has an earned college degree from a respectable Northern Virginia school. Still, Marlo cannot find a respectable job in Virginia. Why? His immigration status is not regularized. What is worse, there is no provision in the laws of the United States of America for a person in his situation to become a citizen. The only way out for Marlo, according to U.S. law, would be to go back to his native Mexico, wait 10 years—as penalty for overstaying his visa—and apply for an immigrant visa. Immigrant visas take between six to eight years to be processed, in the event they are accepted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department.
Marlo does not know what to do. He does not have relatives in Mexico, nor close friends. Of course, he has some acquaintances, but he cannot force them to allow him to live with them. In case he decides to go back to Mexico, where and how would he find a job? What about his family, his parents and siblings who are in Northern Virginia and would not go back to Mexico under any circumstances?
Marlo has already lived in the United States twice as long as in his native Mexico and speaks English much more fluently than Spanish. Should he go back to a country that is not his, relearn its customs, regain a place in society and find a way of life for about 20 years in order to be able to come back to his place in Northern Virginia? What if his father or mother get sick in the meantime, or pass away while he is in Mexico, when it will be impossible for him to come even for a short visit? Would he want to have a life away from his siblings, his friends and his Northern Virginia Baptist church?
When President Bush came to office, Marlo was very excited. Word among Latinos was that this president was going to provide a solution to illegal immigration. Seven years have passed, but no solution is in sight. This year, as any reasonable person, Marlo was expecting Congress to pass some kind of law that would allow him—and his whole family, five people total—to gain access to a road that, even if long, might eventually lead to citizenship. His dreams are now shattered. Marlo finds himself in a total state of confusion. He does not know what to do.
Some days ago, a friend of mine asked me, “Daniel, who speaks for the illegal immigrants?” His question shook my core. I had no answer. All of us have been very slow in speaking for those among us who are between a rock and a hard place. After thinking on my friend's question, I decided this: We need to allow the illegal immigrant population to speak for itself. For many reasons that would be too long to describe and analyze here, the immigrant community has been too shy in telling its story. If told and known, however, a million stories like Marlo's might enlighten our authorities to find workable solutions for all parties involved.
Marlo is searching for an answer. He wants to know what to do with his life. If you were in his situation, would you know what to do with yours?
Daniel Carro is coordinator of the Latino Network of Virginia Baptists and professor of divinity at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Falls Church. This article appears online at EthicsDaily.com