U.S. Born Citizen: An Interview with J.H.

“It got hard as I was getting older. I think when I was younger I didn’t grasp or imagine how bad things could end for them. And I think I became very closed off and then as I was growing up... I mean at first I don’t know why... I remember when my friends would say like, ‘Oh my god you changed so much,’ and I was like, “no, I think I just matured and I’m very chill now.” But now looking back I was like, no, I think I was very traumatized. So, it was very hard growing up because I would like... to realize how much it affected me. I had to kind of like let it all out because I wouldn’t express myself a lot growing up or cry very much. So, then I had a period where I would cry a lot. Now, I still get a little shaky, but it’s become a lot easier for me to speak about it and more because I feel it’s become more important so that something could be done hopefully.” - J.H., a 28-year-old U.S.-born citizen who has multiple family members who have been deported, New Mexico