Ep 6- He Paid His Taxes. Now He’s Hiding From ICE
Ep 6- He Paid His Taxes. Now He’s Hiding From ICE
We're invited into another Minnesota home, this time we meet a Mexican immigrant father terrorized by the immigration crackdown, and who hasn’t left his house in more than a month. He's built a work life through grocery, hotel, and construction jobs, has paid his taxes, and has no criminal record.
“I just been hiding the house, because you never know when you are driving. They are in the regular cars, and you never know when they are gonna show up or follow you.”
OUR INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
Life in Quarantine
Ted expresses gratitude for being invited into the home and inquires about the speaker's recent activities.
The man they have been in the house for a month due to the ongoing situation, feeling very isolated.
He has a daughter and a roommate, but his daughter lives with her mother.
He describes the fear and uncertainty of going outside, feeling like they are worse than criminals due to the chaos outside.
Daily Routine and Safety Measures
He explains the difficulty of occupying their mind due to the constant news and chaos outside.
He has covered all windows to prevent people from watching them, as someone recently broke one uncovered window.
He assumes the window was broken to lure them outside, as such incidents were unheard of before.
Immigration Journey
He was born in Mexico and moved to the United States at 21 to seek better opportunities.
He crossed the border with the help of a coyote, traveling in a van with many other immigrants.
Settling in the United States
He describes their initial arrival in the Twin Cities and the challenges of crossing the desert.
He worked in a grocery store for three months before finding better-paying jobs in housekeeping and construction.
He has been paying taxes and holding a social security number for over a decade.
Impact of Current Events
The man expresses feelings of being trapped in their house, unable to go anywhere or do anything.
He mentions the fear and uncertainty of being targeted by ICE, as they never know when they might be followed.
He plans to stay in the United States for their daughter's sake, hoping things will improve by the time she turns 18.
Community Support and Media Influence
The man receives support from friends who call to check on them and offer help.
He finds watching the news too frightening, as it only amplifies their fear and anxiety.
He notes increased community support after the killing of Renee Good, as people are becoming more aware of the situation.
He expresses a sense of surprise and concern about the current state of the United States, having never seen such chaos in their 25 years in the country.
Final Thoughts and Future Plans
He believes in the power of prayer and hopes things will improve, despite the current challenges.
Ted expresses sympathy and wishes the speaker the best, thanking them for sharing their story.
The man reiterates their intention to stay in the United States for their daughter's future.
They express hope that the situation will eventually calm down and allow them to return to a normal life.