The Bulletin

Page 1

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018

AN AMERICAN PRINT MEDIA PUBLICATION

Tears, Laughter and Hugs, Decades Later Families Reunite Across the Border

By Melina Cervantes and Jim Forbes Special to The Bulletin

COMPTON—It seemed to be taking a lifetime, the bulky coach navigating Los Angeles traffic from LAX, finally exiting onto local streets, ambling toward Compton’s Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.

I

nside the church hall on a blistering Saturday afternoon in late July, Roberto Magaña spoke by phone with his wife of a dozen years, Maria Martinez, as she reported the bus’s progress. For Roberto, his older brother Gabriel and their junior, Rolando, it was a moment they’d long prayed for, but always wondered, would it ever actually happen? Would they ever again see the woman who brought them into the world? It had been a 25 year wait for Gabriel, 18 for Roberto. And then in an instant, all of that anxiety, loneliness and sadness disappeared as Viviana Mora descended the stairs and folded into the waiting arms of her long-gone sons, relishing an impassioned embrace. “I feel very happy, after so many years of not seeing them,” she says shyly in her native tongue. “It has given me a lot of happiness to see my kids.” For the moment at least, the reunion overcame the sadness she first felt when the eldest, Gabriel, left his native Charapán in Michoacán State for good, 25-years ago in 1993. Roberto followed in 1998 and Rolando soon after. Tucked in the northwest corner of Michoacán, their municipality was low on opportunities and they began the trek taken by millions of others, searching for a better life in the United States, to care for both themselves and those still home in Mexico, sending money back as they were able. And so, the 17-hundred-mile journey began, from Charapán through Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja States, finally reaching the border in Tijuana. But as this From there, each made reunion their way to quickly Compton, each risking reminds a trip back home once, all, family but not again separations and not for a long time. also come “It was with a steep for a better future and price paid in to establish family,” Romemories berto states matter-ofmissed. factly, mimicking the words of virtually all who have sought these shores from every nook of the planet over centuries. One after the other, all three brothers say they’ve essentially had the same single employer since their arrival, as far back as two-and-a-half decades ago. Each has poured their sweat and labor into a neighborhood dry cleaner in Lynwood, doing the work they say few choose to perform. They’ve “had no trouble getting work,” Roberto says as he relates there really isn’t much competition for their jobs. Others “are afraid of doing the work.” Each says he’s paid all taxes from the beginning and none have accepted assistance of any kind, offering a perspective contrary to the narrative certainty by some, who suggest undocun Reunion, see page 3

Photos by Melina Cervantes and Jim Forbes Sons, Gabriel (l), Rolando, (4th on left) and Roberto (2nd from right) surround their mother Viviana Mora (3rd on right) with their families.

Watts-Willowbrook Conservatory & Youth Symphony:

Bringing Harmony to Families

2018 Clear the Shelters Event Provides New Homes for 942 LA County Animals

Be a part of the Orchestra

(Visit sappa.net and See page 3)

Overhaul of Willowbrook-Rosa Parks MTA Station Begins. (see Page 3)

LONG BEACH—County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) released final adoption numbers for the 2018 Clear the Shelters event. The results were outstanding. DACC had 591 dog adoptions, 9 rabbit adoptions, and 342 cat adoptions, totaling 942 adoptions! “We are grateful to NBC and Telemundo for leading the campaign to remind families of the wonderful pets at animal care centers in Los Angeles County,” says DACC Director Marcia Mayeda. DACC offered $20 adoption fees for dogs and no cost adoptions for cats from Sunday, August 12 through Sunday, August 19. Marcia Mayeda added, “We want to remind people that more adorable cats are still available for adoption at no cost at our County of Los Angeles animal care centers.” Please come visit one of our seven animal care centers or check our website for more information.


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