Vroommm. The snow white Audi pulls into the parking space
next to the single -wide mobile home.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Keys jiggle as they find their way into
the lock. The petite woman steps into the living room. Her black, pin point
Steve Maddens shine against the wooden floor.
"Sorry for the mess. I am never here, only to
sleep," said Marisela Gutierrez.
Her walls are painted crimson; gold textured drapes covered
the windows. She has just arrived from work. She lives on her own. The asphalt
neighborhood in Carson, Calif. is quiet but the Christmas lights give it charm.
"I feel safe here," she shares.
Even though, this statement is about here personal safety,
it also means something else. On November 24, 2013, she became a US
citizen.
Most of her family moved here in the '80s from Jalisco,
Mexico to Southern California.
"My mom and I came to have a better life when I was
three (1993)," she said, "It's much easier to transition. It's not
like your going to come here and not know where to go."
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| Marisela and Rosa, her mother |
Rosa Gutierrez, her mother, soon found herself working two
jobs at 19 years old. Rosa worked the night shift at a company who made
products for hospitals. After getting off at 7 a.m., she would go work as a
cashier at a restaurant beginning at 10 a.m.
"She did it for nine years.
But it was still better then Jalisco. She left my dad. He was a drunk,"
she explains, "She wanted to be more independent."
Her mother's independence quickly rubbed off on Marisela.
"I would walk myself to kindergarten," she said. "I
would have to change myself and do my hair, because I didn't want to wake my
mom up."
School was a struggle at the beginning because of the
language barrier. Everyday her discomfort came out in tears. Marisela didn't
give up. She learned English so well that she eventually forgot Spanish.
Today, her love for spicy chilies remains. She cuts two
jalapenos in half to roast in the saucepan.
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| Marisela's family pictures in her Carson, Calif. home |
Around the time she was in junior high, she received her
residency, aka papers, aka her green card. It allowed her to get the job at Popeye’s
in high school and eventually drive the Honda Civic that she bought at 18.
"If one thing went wrong, say something in her (Rosa)
investigation and she didn't get her residency... I wouldn't have gotten mine,”
Marisela said.
"The day I got my citizenship, I thought to myself if
it wasn't for my mom doing what she did... paying for an application to become
a resident, which is almost $2000," she said, "What
would I have done? Where would I be?"
Marisela's biggest battle growing up was becoming bilingual.
If she didn't play by Rosa's rules, she would get hit.
"I had to speak Spanish at home only, I forgot English
again," she said, "In my mind I can only have one language."
Fear from her childhood came back when she started
contemplating the process of getting her US citizenship.
"I was so scared because I heard of a test you have to
pass, and they are going to do a background check...and then I had to pay to
become an American citizen," she scowls, "...for what. It didn't make
sense to me."
It was not until she started working at an Orthodontist
office, where she was making more money and had the possibility of getting
benefits, did it make sense. She followed through once she noticed the price of
applying was going up. It cost her $800.
"I submitted my application when I was 22 and weeks
later I got my fingerprints appointment. I had to study for a test which had
100 questions but you only get asked ten," she said.
From the questions on the application to the ones on the
test, it can be a very strenuous process. They want to know the exact dates for
when you entered and left the country. They want to make sure you have not
committed any crimes.
"I spent 40 minutes a night... it took me three weeks
to memorize all 100 questions," she said.
Test day arrived on October 18, 2013. She went to the
Immigration offices in downtown Los Angeles at 9:45 a.m.
"I skipped breakfast I was so nervous," she said.
"Security was insane, I had to take my heels off because they thought they
were weapons."
She arrived on the 10th floor. The administrator of her test
was Latina. She hoped on making a friendly connection based on that.
"She was so rude. With her tone of voice... I felt I
was wayyyyy lower," she confessed, "After passing the test, she went
over my paper work two times. I didn't
know they had the option not to pass me, even though, I got the questions
right."
The invitation was extended
to Marisela to join the citizenship ceremony. Rosa was the first person she
called.
Three ceremonies took place in Montebello, Calif. that day at
Quiet Cannon Country Club.
 |
Marisela and her certificate of
US citizenship |
"900 people were there, mines was the second one. After
waiting in line, they took my green card and made a hole in it. I was like bye (to her card)," she
joked.
"I got that piece of paper
that people die for," she said, "We had to wait for the last person
to sit down for ceremony to start. I felt good inside, I didn't cry. There was
a lady and a guy on either side of me, both from El Salvador. The guy had no
family there, so I pumped him up."
After being sworn in, watching a movie, and singing the
pledge of allegiance, she was released to receive her certificate.
 |
Ceremony took place in Quiet Cannon Country Club
in Montebello, Calif. Over 900 people in attendance |
This was not about starting over like it was for her mother.
It was about doing what was right for herself.
"It took 4 hours...in my heels. I wanted to get out of
there and go back to work," she said.
Photo Credits:
1.Family Collage- La Rae Godoy
2. Up-close of Mari &
Mother- LaRae Godoy
3. Mari w/ Certificate &
Ceremony Picture: supplied by Marisela Gutierrez
