Photo: Sivan Fraser“La frontera”: the frontier. There’s a reason why the United States-Mexico border is literally known as the frontier; it’s an emotional and physical boundary that represents the onset of freedom for many, like Gladys Mayo, a native of Cuba. What makes Gladys’ story truly unique is the positive encounter she had with both Mexican and American immigration officers.
In a September 2009 interview with me, Gladys said that she did anything to get to the United States and obtain freedom:
* 1998-2003: immigrated to Venezuela
* 2003: obtained a visa to Mexico, under the guise of a medical conference
* Planned to cross the border into the U.S
At the frontier, Gladys told the Mexican immigration authority that she was waiting for her son’s father to pick him up. But, after an hour of waiting in the blazing sun, the immigration officer abruptly questioned Gladys. “Senora, porque no me dice la verdad?” he said. “Why don’t you tell me the truth?” When Gladys explained her situation, the immigration officer told her that he helps all Cubans cross the frontier.
Skeptically, Gladys accepted the help as he drove her to a bridge right before the border. He instructed her to take take her son by the hand, cross the bridge like an American would, and never look back. Armed with a plan and the national money she needed to cross the checkpoints, she crossed the frontier.
Despite being scared of deportation or detainment, she never looked back as she walked her way into freedom.
When Gladys crossed the American-Mexican border, she was filled with relief. She kept all of her documents in order, including both her and her son’s original Cuban birth certificates, as she made her way into the U.S. detention center. The other immigrants told her, “You don’t have to be afraid now. You’re safe here.” Instantly, she felt at home.
The U.S. immigration officers were able to see her after only a few minutes and she describes her admittance into the country as smooth. She says that the officers were very loving and paid full attention to her. They asked her routine questions to prove that she was truly Cuban as well.
Overall, Gladys could not have been happier with how U.S. immigration treated her. When the officers noticed that her son had asthma, they immediately escorted him to a doctor. As a result of his asthma, they were not required to stay in the detention center.
Immigration officials gave Gladys and her son the opportunity to call their relatives and insisted that they ate something. Gladys said that they were very concerned about whether or not she had enough to get by. Then, the immigration officers drove Gladys and her son to a bus station, so they could go to Miami and reunite, in freedom, with their family.
Gladys describes her experience with immigration as excellent, which is not typical of many immigrants, even after her lengthily travels in attempts to cross the border. She feels forever indebted to the United States for welcoming her into the country with open arms and ensuring her well-being.
Gladys is currently working as a geriatric nurse in Miami and is applying to become a United States citizen, as she truly feels like an American after spending six years working in a system that smoothly and lovingly liberated her from communism.
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