A MacArthur “Genius” shares her inspiring story, from undocumented newcomer to activist in a powerful immigrant youth movement that changed the lives of millions
Cristina Jiménez’s family struggled to overcome the loss of her sister to cancer and stay afloat as Ecuador fell into a political and economic crisis. When she was thirteen, her parents courageously decided to seek a better life in the U.S. They landed in Queens, New York, cramming into a one-bedroom apartment with relatives and working multiple jobs. Despite the hardships and constant fear of deportation, Cristina learned English and became an honors student. Her dream of attending college was almost shattered by her undocumented status, but she iwasadmitted after immigrant rights advocates won a change in the state’s law.
In college, she soon discovered she was not alone, not the only person struggling with feeling unwelcome and unworthy. Galvanized by her family’s experience and inspired by her new allies, she found her voice, eventually co-founding United We Dream, a national network that catalyzed a powerful youth movement to win DACA and protect over half a million young people from deportation.
In Dreaming of Home, Cristina reminds us that the antidote to fear and isolation is community. Being a “good” immigrant doesn’t protect you from systematic racism, but everyday people have the power to create a country where we all belong and thrive.
