Angelo Cabrera, who lived in New York for 24 years as an undocumented immigrant, went back to San Antonio Texcala, Mexico, the town where he was born, and was barred from returning to the United States during two years.
When Angelo returned to Mexico he was greeted by his family, a mariachi ensemble and nearly the entire town’s population.
Ms. Irma Rodriguez embracing her son Angelo after 24 years. Last time she saw him he was 14. Now because of the diabetes disease she lost her vision. The first thing she told Angelo was "A mother never gives up on waiting for her son".
Angelo, right, spoke with his family and neighbors about his life in the United States. He left Sant Antonio Texcala when he was 14.
During his long absence, Angelo communicated with his family through letters. In the United States, he had barely made enough money to send to his family. This was somenting that always made Angelo felt sad and guilty.
For a teenager it was very difficult to find a job.Working in grocery stores and delicatessens in New York sometimes more than 12 hours per day-
In the mid-1990s, the generosity of a co-worker at a Manhattan deli helped Angelo pursue a high school equivalency degree.
In May 30, 2013 Angelo got his bachelor’s degree at Baruch College, majoring in political science, and then enrolled in a master’s program in public administration, also at Baruch.
Angelo became an example for the Mexican community in New York.
Angelo was the founder of MASA (Mexican American Students Alliance) located in south Bronx mentoring educational programs. They provide free tutoring and other educational services to Mexican-American students and their families.
Angelo was the founder of MASA (Mexican American Students Alliance) located in south Bronx mentoring educational programs. They provide free tutoring and other educational services to Mexican-American students and their families.
He participated in programs of education for undocumented children and was an activist who fought for the rights of immigrants.
March 21, 2010 Washington. Angelo wearing a Mexican hat during an immigration rally to support the Obama administration in its next big battle, a renewed effort to overhaul U.S.immigration laws.
For his selfless work and devotion to improving the lives of immigrants he received various awards like the "Rising Star Award" from the Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg.
In 2014, Angelo was offered a job at Baruch College as the community and social services specialist, but before he could accept the job, he needed to return to Mexico, declare himself to the American immigration authorities and fix his immigration status.
Angelo waited for six months in San Antonio Texcala with his family for the answer of the American Embassy in Mexico. Angelo felt lost in a country that he barely knew with a life and customs very diferents.
In August 13, 2014 the Customs and Border Protection Admissibility Review Office denied his petition to return to the US. Angelo and his family were devastated by the news.
Angelo with his father Mr. Migue Cabrera . After Angelo´s waiver was denied he lost hope. “I felt like I was dying at that moment,” he said. “I was not prepared for the rejection.”
Ms Irma Rodriguez praying for her son in San Antonio Texcala, Mexico.
During the two years Angelo spent in Mexico he worked with the University of Puebla helping students who were deported from the USA with their education rights.
After Angelo's story was featured in many Newspapers in U.S. and Mexico, an online campaign was launched by Daily Kos and Change.org to demand Agelo's waiver request to be granted. 25,000 people signed the petition. Hundreds of people from various community-based organizations made calls to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security . Senator Kristen Gillibrand called on the Department of Homeland Security to reverse their decision.
In March 24, 2016 Angelo arrived to New York JFK airport with a waiver and a work VISA. Some fiends and two of his layers were waiting for him with welcome signs.
Angelo Cabrera embracing an old friend after a press conference offered by CUNY Citizenship to welcome Angelo back home in New York. Ms. Sandra Fuentes, Consul General of Mexico in New York and Congressman Joseph Crowley were present. His return made history in the immigrant community.
La historia de Ángelo Cabrera, un inmigrante indocumentado que gracias a la educación pudo volver a ver a su familia, legalizar su situación migratoria y mejorar la vida de muchos inmigrantes en Nueva York.
Volvió a Mexico para arreglar su estatus migratorio tras 23 años viviendo en Nueva York y pasó dos años sin poder regresar al que considera su hogar en EE.UU.
Fotografías de Maite H. Mateo
Angelo emigró de México a Estados Unidos cuando tenía 14 años de edad. En su periplo por llegar a New York, Angelo pasó numerosas penurias y vivió en las calles. Cuando finalmente lo consiguió, su vida se convirtió en una lucha por sobrevivir trabajando en lugares en los que era tratado de manera muy vejatoria, trabajando mas de 12 horas al día por muy poco dinero.
A mediados de los años noventa, la generosidad de una compañera de trabajo en un deli, ayudó al Sr. Cabrera a pagar sus estudios y conseguir su graduado en la escuela secundaria. El Sr. Cabrera vivía trabajando en dos empleos con bajos salarios en supermercados y tiendas especializadas en Nueva York y estudiando al mismo tiempo.
El 30 de Mayo del 2013, se graduó de Baruch College con un título de maestría en administración pública. Angelo fue el co-fundador de un programa social educativo situado en el sur del Bronx, en el que proporcionaban tutoría gratuita y otros servicios educativos a estudiantes mexicano-estadounidenses y sus familias.
Por su abnegada labor y dedicación a mejorar las vidas de los inmigrantes ha recibido varios premios como el "Rising Star Award" por parte del alcalde de Nueva York, Michael Bloomberg. Después de vivir dos tercios de su vida en los Estados Unidos, recientemente volvió a México para arreglar su estado migratorio, lo que le permitiría aceptar un trabajo en el Baruch College de Nueva York.
El reencuentro con su familia tras 23 años sin verlos fue uno de los momentos mas importantes de su vida.El abrazo de su madre después de tantos años hizo estallar los vecinos de San Antonio Texcala, presentes en tan emotivo encuentro en aplausos, lágrimas y bailes. ” Una madre no se cansa de esperar”, dijo Doña Irma Rodriguez a un emocionado Angelo, mientras le palpaba la cara con sus manos intentando imaginarse la cara de ese hijo al que la ceguera por su diabetes no le dejaba ver.
El Sr. Cabrera esperó cinco meses en San Antonio Texcala, la respuesta del gobierno norteamericano a su petición de perdón. El correo electrónico de la Embajada de los Estados Unidos en la Ciudad de México llegó el 13 de agosto, denegando su petición. Las razones eran haber permanecido de manera ilegal durante años en USA.
La respuesta dejó al Sr Cabrera desolado y lleno de impotencia. Poco o nada podía hacerse ante la rotunda respuesta del departamento de inmigración. Es extremadamente raro que los casos se sometan a una segunda revisión. Sin embargo la huella que Angel dejó en su comunidad en Nueva York, hizo que rápidamente organizaciones como Daily Kox o change.org lanzaran sendas campañas en las redes sociales pidiendo a la Senadora Kirsten Gillibrand el esfuerzo para reconsiderar su caso de nuevo y analizar la decisión de privar a Angelo de volver a Nueva York. La campaña logró su objetivo y el Sr.Angelo recibió su pasaporte, su perdón migratorio y su VISA de trabajo.
El 24 de Marzo del 2016 Angelo llegaba a Nueva York radiante de felicidad y dispuesto a seguir trabajando por mejorar los derechos en educación de la comunidad inmigrante en Nueva York. Su VISA no es definitiva y su futuro es todavía incierto, pero sin duda su caso ha creado un precedente en la comunidad inmigrante en Estados Unidos.
