May 30, 2010 by Eric Gibble Making the decision to journey to
the U.S. Nine years ago, a woman from Guatemala made a decision
that would change her life forever. It’s a journey that would
force her to face challenges and dangers she never would have
expected. Roberta, a resident of Philadelphia, requested her
real name not be used due to the recent validation of her visa.
She was once a part of the more than 11 million undocumented
immigrants already living in the United States. This precarious
journey northward was also one she didn’t want to make. “I was
praying we wouldn’t have to go,” Roberta said. “I didn’t want to
leave my family.” After growing up in Guatemala City as a child,
she moved to the outskirts of the city after 12 years. She later
married and had two children, one girl who is now 14 years old
and a boy who is now 12. Just like any other average Guatemalan,
Roberta led a seemingly normal life. However, a normal life to
Guatemalans is in stark contrast to the normal life of an
average American.