“I would choose to migrate even ten times over again”

Story #4

A, 54, from Brazil

Interviewed by Lara Werneck & Written by Madeline Humphery

When A was in his 30’s, he migrated to the United States from Brazil. He decided to move due to his friends’ encouragement for a better life.

“I had a lot of friends here, and everyone said a good life was achievable with hard work in the U.S.,” A said.

At first, A held many concerns about moving to America, such as not understanding English, not being able to find a job, as well as being undocumented.  He compared his move to the new country to starting life with a blank slate.

“Leaving a country that you lived for almost thirty years to start in a whole new place is like starting from scratch in all aspects of life,” A said.

Although A experienced some difficulties when he initially migrated such as other employees at his work telling him to ‘go back to your country,’ as time progressed, he was able to settle down and assimilate to his new life. 

“I found friendships that helped strengthen me and reassure me that it is difficult for a lot of people at first,” A said. 

According to A, the life that he has in the United States is the life that he had always dreamed of having before migrating. 

“I feel as though I am living my dream,” A said. “It’s like I won a prize, as if I have won the mega million lottery. I am living a life that a few decades ago, I thought would never be my reality.”

A hopes to obtain his green card this year to legalize himself and his wife. After spending over 20 years and thousands of dollars on immigration lawyers, he hopes to finally become a legal citizen. 

When asked if he would migrate again, A said that he would not have changed his decision. 

“I would choose to migrate even ten times over again,” A said. 

A wishes that people would sympathize with immigrants and realize that they simply wish to have the opportunity to build a better life for themselves.

“We solely come in hopes for a better life with humble intentions and open hearts ready to embrace American culture, while celebrating our own,” A said. “I also think it’s important to acknowledge the complexity and difficulty that comes with the legalization process and how hard it is for law-abiding undocumented immigrants to build a life here in the U.S.”