New York News contributor Florencia Arozarena holds up a duplicate of one of many immigrant profiles she co-wrote with Dean Moses, police bureau chief.
Supplied
From the practice station, I watch as youngsters with purple noses from the chilly seize their baggage from the again of the automotive as dad and mom say their candy farewells. Again to highschool, again to the town, again to observe their very own goals into the world. I consider my very own father saying goodbye to his household in Argentina to maneuver to the USA.
And, after spending the previous few months as an intern at New York News overlaying households impacted by ICE detention, I consider the 1000’s of immigrant households who by no means get the possibility to say their goodbyes.
My father moved right here 26 years in the past. He all the time talks about how laborious it was. He left Argentina a number of months after his mother died to maneuver to a different nation to make issues higher. He left behind his 4 brothers, my sister and me. He got here with lower than $200 {dollars} and generally needed to sleep on the road or in a storage. He labored in kitchens, building and any job that would earn him somewhat bit of cash to hire a room.
I used to be solely three years outdated when he left. After 2001, immigration coverage grew to become extra strict. I couldn’t meet him till he grew to become a citizen. I used to be 12 once I noticed him once more. I bear in mind my grandmother telling me how my dad referred to as crying. He needed to give up every thing and return to Argentina, however he continued combating for a greater life for my sister and me.
I owe him every thing.
Florencia Arozarena along with her father.Supplied
I moved to the USA at age 22.
I used to be fortunate to have a father to assist me. He welcomed me to this nation and helped me with my transition. Many immigrants don’t have that assist. Working as a pastry chef in prime Michelin-starred eating places, I met folks from throughout cultures who, like myself and my father earlier than me, left every thing behind – tradition, language, even household–to have a greater future.
Even with my father’s assist, there have been nonetheless many obstacles. I struggled with each essay I needed to write for my college. Individuals made enjoyable of my accent or how I pronounced sure phrases. Like many Latinos, I realized resilience from my father, my household and from each immigrant I met who saved transferring ahead, as a result of they’d no different selection.
Individuals like Franyelis, a pregnant Venezuelan girl, I met working as an intern for New York News. Or Jessica, an Ecuadorian girl who gave beginning a month after her husband was deported. Or numerous others who proceed to encourage me.
Florencia Arozarena assembly with relations of ICE detainees.Picture by Dean Moses
Studying English was not simple, so I by no means thought I’d be capable of be a reporter, however I spotted these tales wanted to be advised.
After I began my internship with New York News, I had one purpose: amplify the voices of Hispanic communities. I couldn’t think about that with no prior expertise in journalism, I’d have the chance to do all of the work I did up to now 4 months. I’m so grateful to everybody at New York News who pushed me and allowed me to do what I needed to do.
Dean Moses, police bureau chief at New York News, and I traveled throughout New York Metropolis assembly households. We spent hours with them, listening as they shared infinite nightmares. Seeing their faces–eyes filled with tears, voices breaking from exhaustion– almost broke me.
Virtually each Sunday, we visited a church the place immigrant households gathered, praying for spouses, fathers, moms, youngsters. That’s the place Dean met Alexandra, an Ecuadorian girl whose husband had been taken by ICE.
We went to Queens to talk along with her and her 11-month-old daughter, Mia. After our first assembly along with her, Alexandra and I spoke day by day for a month till her husband was launched. Dean and I went to the airport at midnight to see Alexandra reunite along with her husband after being separated for 44 days and seize the second for New York News.
Florencia Arozarena assembly with relations of ICE detainees.Picture by Dean Moses
I cried as if it have been my circle of relatives. As a journalist, we have to be goal however the belief and relationship we constructed with Alexandra and others allowed us to inform the story extra deeply, so others can higher perceive their experiences.
After I see Alexandra hugging Manuel along with her daughter Mia in her arms, or each time Jessica’s son Dylan runs to Dean to greet him, I do know they’re the long run these dad and mom sacrificed for – like I used to be for my father. Alexandra, Jessica, or Franyelis hold going for his or her youngsters, for a greater future. These tales wanted to be advised.
Immigrants made New York a metropolis for dreamers, we can not fail them now.
Florencia Arozarena interned for New York News within the fall of 2025, and is a contract contributor.
