the love you feed

By Jen Lopez 

We often hear about how immigrants are “illegal aliens” that only come to the U.S. to “steal” jobs and cause crime.

But it’s important to know that this is a gross stereotype that only belittles immigrants; they just come to seek an opportunity they couldn’t get elsewhere. 

Coming to a new country, 47-year-old vendor and community member, I.O. (I’m using initials to protect her identity) freshly starting her life in the U.S., had a dream to have her own business and do something that involved food.

I.O.: Siempre fue un sueño que queria ser algo con comida y tener mi propio negocio. [It was always a dream that I wanted to do something with food and have my own business.]

Eight years ago, she began her catering business. It started off as just making tacos for friends and family, but after being asked by a neighbor how much she charges, she came to a realization that this could be something she wants to continue in her life.

Starting this business she had the support and assistance from her husband and sister. Her husband was supportive with wanting her to pursue this dream and achieve it, he was quick to try and provide the essentials she needed for her first job, while her sister was there to assist her during the process. Both were a big factor of starting her business and supporting her uprising. 

I.O.: Mi esposo, apoyando me. Que si se puede, no tengas miedo. Todo va a estar bien. Vas a verque todos van a confiar en ti. [My husband, supporting me. That it is possible, don’t be scared. Everything will be okay. You’ll see that everyone will trust in you.] 

Enjoying the food, people were of course drawn to her business. One of her more popular foods were tacos, which is what she started off with, later bringing in tamales at someone’s request, and making many other foods. 

It wasn’t only her amazing food however, she was kind to customers and just anybody who she interacted with, showing that she has a kind personality and people can engage with her. She enjoys hearing that people loved her food, that it brought joy to them. 

I.O.: Mirar a la jente feliz cuando termino mi trabajo, que se quedan contentos con mi trabajo que ofreci. [Seeing people happy when I complete my work, they’re left happy with the work I offered.]

Going into this business, it may have seemed like it was a dream come true for I.O., but being an undocumented immagrant, it came with fear. 

I.O.: Siempre salgo con miedo, con temor. Que un día–como ahorita como esta, que nos vayan a parar y tengo miedo que nos vayan a deportar. [I always go out with fear. That one day–like right now, how it is, that they’ll stop us and I’m scared that they’ll deport us.]

With I.C.E. raids happening in America, it’s terrifying for many undocumented immigrants, especially for those who have their businesses, and that go out trying to do their normal daily routines. They move with caution and fear, leaving the house with a constant “what if” as they are just trying to live. 

In an article by Vicente Vera, San Jose Latino businesses say ICE reports scaring customers, it quotes that “We have close to 600 small business owners that are undocumented, so they face double the impact–loss of revenue and fear for their own (immigration) situation.” 

Undocumented business owners are at fear of getting deported or detained. Not only that but they also lose customers and the ability to earn money, being scared away by the fear of something happening to them. 

Most just try to avoid going out and face the problem, understandably, but I.O. tries to reason with herself. She tries to keep a positive mind and not let that fear consume her and bring her down.

I.O.: Trato de sentirme tranquila porque si no, es peor. Dicen que cuando uno pienza y pienza, trae malas energias. [I try to stay calm, because if not, it’s worse. They say that when you think negatively, you bring in that negative energy.]

Even with this constant fear of I.C.E. affecting her business and stripping her away from it, she still carries on this dream. 

Her love for her business is strong enough to keep her going, bringing joy not only for herself but for her community that supports her.