THE GREAT DIVIDE: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ON ONE DAY : EVENTS COORDINATOR

NAME: Francisco Amador

AGE: 37

WORK: Special events coordinator for a church

HOME: Bell

IMMIGRATION STATUS: Legal resident since 1989 under the amnesty program, after 13 years as an illegal resident.

“I was always afraid when I was living as an illegal. Once, I worked ironing clothing and one day my boss came in, she says, ‘Immigration is here. Go.’ My legs shook. I think, ‘Oh no, I don’t have legs.’ I’m so scared. But we went to the window, we were on the third floor and jumped out of the building next door, which was only two stories.

“I got the job ironing clothes because I went to the unemployment office. They said, ‘Are you a resident?’ I said, ‘Yes, I am American citizen.’ She told me of a job ironing clothes. At the time, I never ironed anything in my life. My aunt said, ‘What are you going to do?’ That night she taught me to iron. I ironed for six hours. I ironed everything I owned. When I went to the job, the owner says, ‘Do you have experience?’ I say, ‘Of course.”