“When one door closes, another opens. Embrace opportunities, learn the language, and acquire new skills. Don't isolate yourself; always seek help from organizations or others who can support you.”
These were the concluding words during our interview with Natalia de las Cuevas and Juan Carlos de las Cuevas. Their journey to the United States started exactly twenty years ago in 2004 when they were approved to emigrate to the U.S. under the third (and final) Special Cuban Migration Lottery that took place during FY 1998. For Natalia, this was her second round of displacement. She was once a stranger in a strange land when she left her native Russia for Cuba forty years ago. Her story was published by Catholic Legal Immigration Network a few months ago.
During the intervening twenty years between her first arriving in Havana and the plane carrying her, her husband, and two sons touched down in Houston, Natalia became fluent in Spanish, got a university education, and integrated in the local community (she even changed her name from Natasha to Natalia). Like hundreds of thousands of immigrants who come to the U.S., Natalia had to contemplate uprooting herself and her family again for a better a life – one in which they no longer fear hunger or want, and one where her sons will have better opportunities.
This past month, we sat down with Natasha and her son, Juan Carlos de las Cuevas, both work at St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; Natasha works as a Senior OLAP Accredited Representative and Juan Carlos as a Senior Staff Attorney. What motivates them to continue to work in the increasingly challenging immigration legal landscape?
Juan Carlos grew up in Cuba and came to the U.S. to start college. While in high school, he wanted to follow in his mother’s footsteps of attending law school. He recalls looking over his mother’s notes and feeling inspired to start his education in law upon finishing high school. His life would soon change, however, as their family moved from Cuba to Houston where they faced a new language and culture. As they began their resettlement journey with the help of Catholic Charities, Juan Carlos started as a worker at Randall’s while Natasha began work as a refugee case worker. Embracing her Russian mother’s advice,
“Education is the key to resilience. Keep learning, always,”
Natasha went back to school for paralegal studies and got certified as a paralegal and Juan Carlos started law school only a few years after arriving in Houston.
Juan Carlos has always known
that as Cubans, they received special treatment under the U.S. immigration system, a privilege denied to most others. Because of that, both Juan Carlos and Natasha felt a keen sense of responsibility and fulfillment in their work with the immigrant community. For Juan Carlos, it is seeing how his work changes the lives of his clients. Many of his clients come to the United States as young children, and once they obtain their immigration status, they can finish high school; some choose to go to college, others start working or even start their own families. “Seeing these young people, some of whom have been here almost 10 years, learning a new language and starting independent lives motivates me to keep doing this work,” said Juan Carlos. For Natasha, “seeing how we can change people’s lives through Catholic Charities [was the motivation.] It's important to help them achieve their dreams, like reuniting families - when people wait many years for a family petition to bring their loved ones to the United States, which brings a lot of happiness. Seeing families reunite is rewarding for parents, children, and spouses alike.”
Natasha knows firsthand that no one would uproot her family if home was safe and secure. She remembers how her anxiety of having to start anew in a strange city melted away when she saw her sons were able to feast in the impossibly huge Chinese buffet in Houston soon after they arrived. She knew her sons would no longer fear hunger. Eighteen years since resettling in Houston, Natasha and Juan Carlos take pride in helping their clients come one step closer to accomplishing their goals of living safely in the United States. Today, they strive to be the source of support that they initially received from those who helped them in their journey.
“To new immigrant families, I would say never lose faith or hope. Take advantage of all the opportunities available here. If you face challenges, seek help from organizations or individuals who can guide you. Study as much as you can, every bit of knowledge can help.”
“I would add, be patient and optimistic.”
As immigrant justice advocates around the United States poise to tackle another period of anti-immigrant attacks and challenges, Natasha and Juan Carlos remind us of the importance of community and strong support networks. The work ahead is bigger than any one of us can manage alone. Our collective strength makes us resilient and helps us better advocate for those in our community who are the targets of harmful policies.
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