Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Constancio Perales García, Constancio Perales García

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

Constancio Perales es originario de Durango, México. Perales perdió a sus padres y decidió cruzar la frontera de los Estados Unidos para construir un mejor futuro para su propia familia. Perales tuvo un recorrido muy difícil para llegar a EE. UU. Trabajó en el campo y en la matanza. Por medio de este esfuerzo, Perales les dio una educación a sus hijos. Perales cree que la educación es muy importante para el futuro de las personas.

Constancio Perales is originally from Durango, Mexico. Perales lost his parents and decided to cross the US border to build a better future for …

María Guadalupe García De Perales, María Guadalupe García De Perales

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

María Guadalupe García de Perales proviene de Durango, México. María está casada con Constancio Perales y juntos tienen cuatro hijos. El esposo de María inmigró a los Estados Unidos para mejorar su situación económica. Después de varios intentos, García finalmente logró cruzar la frontera de EE. UU. junto con sus hijos para reunir la familia. María se sintió bienvenida en un país nuevo. María tuvo la oportunidad de trabajar en varios empleos lo cual ayudó a sustentar a su familia y a darles a sus hijos la oportunidad de tener una buena educación.

María Guadalupe García de Perales is from …

Enedina Manríquez, Enedina Manríquez

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

Enedina Manríquez was born in Guanajuato, Mexico. Her family moved to the United States when Manríquez was ten months old. Manríquez and her family have lived in many places in the United States, moving to find work. They finally settled in Scottsbluff, Nebraska where her parents could work at a restaurant that Enedina’s uncle owned. Manríquez’s parents now own the restaurant. Manríquez is a part of DACA, which allows her to attend school and work in the United States as an undocumented immigrant. She discusses how being undocumented has impacted her life. Manríquez attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney …

Esthefany López Cruz, Esthefany López Cruz

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

Esthefany López Cruz is the daughter of Honduran immigrants. In 1998, her parents decided to embark on the dangerous journey to the United States to escape the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. López Cruz was only one and half at the time. The family settled down in Hastings, Nebraska to be close to López’s Cruz grandmother. Because of debates around Temporary Protected Status, López Cruz fears that the government will send Hurricane Mitch survivors like her back to Honduras. López Cruz faced many challenges growing up in a Spanish-speaking household while attending a school that taught subjects in English. Despite that, …

Carlos Ortega, Carlos Ortega

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

Carlos Ortega was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. His family moved to the United States in 2001. Ortega initially struggled in school because of his difficulties with English. With the support of a dedicated teacher and through immersion, Ortega eventually became fluent in English. Both in school and in the community, Ortega has faced much racial discrimination, including physical assaults. Ortega wishes to become a teacher to teach tolerance to young students and to help both adult and young Hispanic immigrants learn English.

Carlos Ortega nació en Chihuahua, México. En 2001 su familia se mudó a los Estados Unidos. Ortega inicialmente …

Juan Carlos Guzmán, Juan Carlos Guzmán

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

Juan Carlos Guzmán was born in Tepic Nayarit, Mexico. At age 14, Juan and his family immigrated to the United States to join his father in California. Guzmán struggled because of his undocumented status. Guzmán wanted a better life for himself and used education to achieve that goal. After graduating from Grand Island Senior High School, Guzmán attended college and now holds two Masters’ degrees. Guzmán has always worked to improve conditions for other immigrant families in the community. His current job is to help other students that face the same challenges he did. Through hard work and determination, Guzmán …

Leslie García, Leslie García

Coming to the Plains Oral Histories/ Llenando las Llanuras Historias Orales

Leslie García is from Lexington, Nebraska. She is the youngest daughter of Mexican immigrants. Her parents were well respected in their hometown, but they immigrated to the United States to build a better life for their family. García’s life has been marked by the experience she had growing up with Hispanic heritage in Lexington. García has extended family in California, Kansas, and Mexico, allowing her to experience the different cultures of both the United States and Mexico. García plans to become a Spanish teacher after graduating from college. She has been both a participant in and an assistant on Coming …