Faces of West County: Anita

What's it like being undocumented in west county?

Anita sat for this portrait by Steve Einstein. She granted us permission to post it.

Being undocumented can’t be easy—though, who knows how many millions of our neighbors live with that every day. They’re washing dishes at neighborhood restaurants, cleaning our homes, and this time of year, pruning in the lovely vineyards all around us. Others might be helping prepare people’s taxes, and there are plenty taking care of our incontinent parents at skilled nursing facilities or in our own homes.

With so much attention being focused on immigration issues and, in particular, ICE activity throughout the country, I thought I’d try to find someone to talk with who knew about this issue firsthand.

I approached the Graton Day Labor Center and asked if there was someone there willing to speak with me. The street corners of Graton, especially early in the morning, often have a handful of people waiting around for someone to drive up and offer some work. In this age of ICE roundups, I’ve thought that was a dicey place for people without legal residency to be hanging out. Sort of like sitting ducks.

A little way down Bowen Street, a block or two from the main drag, sits the Graton Day Labor Center. It’s a hiring hall where the workers keep 100% of their earnings with no middle person to shave off a chunk of the check. Inside, 20 to 25 people, mostly men with a smattering of women, were sitting around the main room schmoozing, waiting to have their names called for the promise of a day’s work. The guy at the front desk tells me that things are slow this time of year and that only 6 to 8 of those sitting here will, in all likelihood, be going out that day.

I had been in touch with Karym Sanchez, the lead organizer at the center, who agreed to facilitate my meeting with someone. Karym, who wore a black whistle around his neck, just in case, introduced me to Anita, and we took folding chairs outside into the early morning sun to talk. My Spanish is pitifully limited (buenos dias, mucho gusto, por favor), so Karym acted as our interpreter.

Anita is a woman in her early 50s, with a firm handshake, long jet-black hair, a fast smile, and a fresh coat of red lipstick in place.

Before we began, I told Anita that she didn’t have to answer any question that made her uncomfortable. We also agreed to use her first name only.

Where and when were you born, Anita?

In the state of Sonora, [Mexico], 1971.

What’s going on with your knee? (Anita wore a knee brace on her left leg.)

Oh, that’s from a fall I had while working in the vineyards. I go to Concentra in Rohnert Park for treatment.

They do a lot of Workman’s Comp cases, no?

Yes. That’s them. The accident happened almost two years ago, and it’s still a problem.

Who is in your family?

I had five kids. Two adult children out of state, two out of the country, and a daughter, who died.

I’m sorry.

She was a victim of a murder/suicide. Her boyfriend did it.

Oh my.

I also have eight grandkids. Two are in the States; I see them once a year; five are abroad; and one is nearby, the child of my daughter, who I’m not allowed to see.

That sounds painful.

Are you married?

Yes. I remarried in 2018 to a great guy.

How and when did you get here to the States?

I came in on a tourist visa with my two youngest kids back in March of 2015.

I had a business there [in Mexico], and after being held up at gunpoint for the third time, I knew it was time to leave.

Have you gone back to Mexico at all?

Yes, three times. But no more. Not now, at least.

Are you in the process of getting legal status here?

I’m trying to get a U visa. That’s a special visa for people who have been the victims of violent crimes.

Well, good luck with that.

How much schooling did you get?

I finished the 9th grade.

Are you studying English now?

Oh yes. At the JC [location redacted].

My wife teaches ESL. How many of the students in your class do you think are also undocumented?

I’d guess around 90%.

What sort of work do you do here?

I do gardening, but I prefer doing housekeeping.

I want people to know about a special program we have here. It’s called the CLG Assist Program, and it’s for people here in the 5th district. Single parents, seniors, or disabled people can get a free four-hour work order to do work around their house. Just call the center at 707-829-1864, and they’ll help set it up.

Hey, thanks for the tip. What sort of work did you do in Mexico?

I had a small liquor store. It was also a bit of a convenience store. It was open from 8 am to midnight. The kids would come in and help me run the place. We only closed at midnight because we weren’t allowed to stay open longer.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I always dreamed of being a stewardess.

Have you flown on a plane?

No. Not yet. I don’t have a Social Security card, so I can’t.

I was just talking yesterday to a new member of our family, a nephew-in-law who is from Madagascar. He said that he can’t open a bank account without a Social Security number.

Yes, you can! You need an ITN number (an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number —we looked it up). You need an ID from the country of your birth, like a passport or birth certificate, and a state ID. It’s a number that lets the IRS track your wages.

Good to know. Thanks. I’ll let Claude know.

Do you think that with the increased patrolling at the border and all the ICE arrests, people have stopped coming over?

Oh, they’re still coming. People still have the American dream, and then they’re shocked when they get here and see how hard it is to survive. It just costs more now to get here. Coyotes are now charging $10,000 to $20,000 dollars to come over.

What are you doing differently these days with the increased immigration enforcement? (I’m not sure that Anita understood what I meant by that, but she gave a rather inspired response.)

I’m actually more activated now. I want to support a big march that we’re going to have on May 1st in support of immigrant rights. And I’m supporting the group North Bay Jobs With Justice.

Do you, or friends of yours, consider leaving? Has anyone you know actually left?

Nobody I know personally.

Do you know of someone actually taken by ICE?

Not personally, but someone was just taken yesterday in Vallejo. And ICE is now here in Sonoma County. They picked up someone on Farmers Lane recently.

Is there a labor hall, like this one in Graton, in Santa Rosa, Windsor or wherever?

Yes, there are others. Smaller ones.

Why do you come to this one?

One of my friends invited me to this one, and I just feel more comfortable here. We’re treated with respect here.

Where do you get your healthcare from?

Well, I go to Concentra for my knee, but otherwise I have MediCal. But I don’t have a regular doctor.

Flu or COVID shot?

No, flu shot, but I got a COVID shot. I had it in the past.

Your hobbies? What do you do for fun?

I love to listen to really loud music. And I like to talk a lot. (Anita laughs at that.)

What music do you listen to? Your top three.

Jose Jose, Karol G., Cardi B. and The Doors. Cardi B. was my daughter’s favorite.

Are you going to watch Bad Bunny on Sunday?

Nah. Not really interested in his music.

How about the news? Do you read a paper? Where do you get your information from?

Mostly from the internet. Mostly YouTube. And the Bible. Maybe I’ll have to start reading The Sebastopol Times now! (She laughs at that one, too.)

Do you go to church?

Every week, with my husband. It’s a place a few minutes from our house, called [name of church redacted].

What does your husband do?

He also works in the fields or landscaping.

How many people live in your home?

We’re three now.

Can I ask what you pay in rent?

$2,200. We were struggling to make rent, so we just added a renter. The hard part about that is that it’s my daughter’s room that we rented out. We think about a smaller place, but even a studio or a one-bedroom in Santa Rosa goes for $1,800.

Have you been to the snow?

Yes. To Tahoe a few times, but we had lots of snow in Sonora, where I came from.

Have you been to Las Vegas?

Yes. I liked watching people there, but not the gambling. I don’t like losing money that fast.

Where do you and your husband go for fun?

Short trips around here. Like to Bodega. We go every year to visit my sons and grandkids. My husband has family there, too.

Do you ever eat out?

Sure. We like the Olive Garden.

What’s the best Mexican place around here?

My house! There is no really decent Mexican place here.

What do you like most about life in America?

The opportunity to work here and be able to help my family in Mexico. And I like the culture here of following the law. It’s not that way in Mexico. The Anglo people have always treated me with respect here.

What seems strange or odd to you here?

It’s strange for me to see young people here begging for money in this land of opportunity. In Mexico, if you ask for money, it’s always in exchange for some kind of work. It’s not just a handout.

Are your parents still alive? What’s the most important thing you learned from them?

My dad died when I was only nine, and my mother when I was 23. They taught me to be honest and responsible and to treat people like you would want to be treated.

What are your goals or wishes?

Many. My biggest goal is to step out of the shadows to fight for our community and to encourage others to do the same thing. Personally, my goal is to spend time with my granddaughter, who lives nearby. That’s what gives me strength.

Any last thoughts, Anita?

Yes. First of all, I want to thank God. Second, I want to thank the United States for opening its doors to me and my family when we really needed it.

Thanks for sitting with me, Anita, and opening up so honestly.

After I take Anita’s picture, she says, “Lots of people think I’m Native American.”

“But you are. I was born in this country, but to an Austrian mother and a German father. You’re more Native American than I am!”

She laughs again. “Yes, I really am from here.”

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