John --

On this Mother’s Day, I’m sharing the story of my mom—a 5-foot Filipina woman with an unmatchable sense of humor and an instinct to greet everyone with the question “Have you eaten yet?”. 

18 years ago, my ma worked hard to bring my siblings and I to this country legally. Like many immigrant mothers, she sought a better life for us. I still remember her joy when we arrived, tears rolled down her cheeks onto her curved lips that created the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face.

She never would have expected that years later, we’d find ourselves undocumented in this country.

Yet, my ma continued to bring joy and relief in the years following. After toiling away on shifts at the supermarket, cleaning houses, and nannying, she’d return home to us with her magnetic smile and hands always full of grocery bags packed with our favorite foods. The precariousness of our lives was a burden she carried in secret--requiring her to hide away her own dreams as she fought to uphold her promise of a better future to my siblings and me. 

Always, but especially on this day, I am reminded of her persistence, courage, and care that prompted me to join the fight with supporters like you to welcome people with dignity and ensure a humane and dignified path to citizenship for all immigrants, including my ma.

A path to citizenship for essential workers, like my mom, would give us a renewed sense of hope. One day, my mom may be able to buy her own home, open a restaurant long dreamt of; we’d finally be able to visit our family in the Philippines without having to risk permanent separation from our family here. 

I’m in this fight to protect my mom and the millions of immigrants in this country. 

Join me in ensuring a fair and humane path to citizenship for people like my mom and myself who have built a home here. Let’s forge a future where immigrants like my ma are ensured protections in this country. This is her home--and mine. We can proudly say that we are home. 

With love,

Cheska Mae Perez, Organizer and DACA Recipient