I am fearful in my county

I wish I could go to college, but I’m afraid. As an undocumented teenager in Lamont (Kern County), even going outside my house is scary. I’m always worried about being sent back to a country that is not my home.

My parents brought me to the United States from Mexico when I was 11. All my life I’ve tried to be a good person. I have attended school since I arrived, and I am a high school graduate. I’m constantly thinking of ways to better myself and find opportunities to become successful.

I’m working at a packaging company where my parents also work. We get up every day at 5 a.m. to get ready for the nine-hour workday. I usually work five days a week unless the machines break down. When that happens, it usually takes a few days to fix them.

Before President Trump was elected, I went to the movies with friends, out to eat and spent time at parks without being afraid. Right now, I don’t do anything but work and stay home.

If California were to become a sanctuary state, then undocumented teens like myself could breathe a sigh of relief. It would mean that I could ride my bike without being scared of being detained and deported. I could go out without having to constantly look over my shoulder.

It would be life changing for my family and me. Instead of being stuck, I could plan for my future, just like most other responsible 19-year-olds.

— Luis, 19, is a writer for South Kern Sol, a youth-led publication in South Kern County that collaborated with Youth Radio. He is using his first name only to protect the privacy of his family.