Mexican immigrants attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border by the thousands every year.

Some cross in hopes of starting a new life and to live the American Dream with a fulfilling job, house, a spouse, kids and the security knowing that they can look forward to a brighter future.

Others are forced to turn around and go back to the beginning where the hardships they once escaped await their return.

The conflict for control of the U.S.-Mexico border continues to be a heavily debated and controversial topic within the United States, especially between individuals who are affected by living along the border in Southern Arizona.

It is not until you sit down and have a meaningful conversation with some of these hard-working immigrants that you realize they are not bad people for wanting to start a new life full of opportunity. They want to escape the poverty and corruption found in Mexico. They will do whatever it takes to reach their dreams.

These are the stories of two Mexican immigrants who successfully made it across the border. A landscaper and a cleaning lady who came to this country to make an honest living. They are giving back to the community while receiving little in return.

Note:This interview was conducted in Spanish and the quotes have been translated into English.

Panche, (pronounced “pahn-chee”), came to the United States in 1999 from Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. She had a friend living in Tucson, Julieta, whom she lived with once arriving to the U.S.

What inspired her to come to the United States?

“To work,” Panche said. Her only dream was to be able to clean houses and escape the harsh living conditions in Cananea. Her family remains in Cananea, but she brought her son, Ivan who attends school at Arizona State University, with her.

She explained that they did not have any problems crossing the border because they both had Visas.

Initially, Julieta, also from Mexico, asked Panche to help her clean houses. She received $200 a month from the house she cleaned every week. But eventually, she stopped getting paid and never found out why.



Later she moved in with her sister and continued to clean houses. This has been her only job since arriving in Tucson: cleaning houses seven days a week, including holidays.

“I like to clean,” Panche said. “I also plan to stay in Tucson since I don't have the money to travel.”

At 46, Panche has considered obtaining her U.S. citizenship, but to do that, she would have to marry an American.

“I want to marry for love, not to obtain papers, you know?" Panche explains.



Panche will continue to clean houses in Tucson seven days a week, many of the houses taking six to eight hours to clean because she mainly works in the Foothills region.

She is not sure if she will remain in the U.S. as a resident or receive her citizenship. For now, she will continue to clean houses. She has things here that she doesn’t have in Mexico. She also doesn’t like to visit Mexico because of the poverty and dirty streets.

For now, Panche is satisfied with her life in Tucson.

“I have a car, a house and a family here. I don't have a lot of money but I have love.”



Tomás Pulido is a hard-working individual who came to the United States with one goal in mind like many other immigrants: to live the American Dream.

Originally from Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 49-year-old Pulido arrived in the United States in 1974 riding in the back of a pick-up truck with other Mexican immigrants looking for work.

Since getting married in 1979, Pulido has been living a better life with a house, cars, his own landscaping business, and two kids, ages 19 and 7.

It wasn’t the easiest road to travel for Pulido to get where he is today.

“My mother started crying and was very upset when I told her I wanted to live in the United States,” Pulido said. “But eventually, she wanted me to do what was best for myself.”

His first stop was Tucson where his sister lives. He started off working at a bakery at age 16 receiving $55 a week.

There, he worked with four other Americans whom he learned English from. He also credits television for helping him learn English, especially the children’s show, “Sesame Street.”

His next stop was California where he worked at a food processing plant. He then moved to Washington state to work at a cattle business, but because he had friends and family in Tucson, he and his family eventually moved back where Pulido worked in the landscaping business.

Pulido obtained his citizenship six months ago. His sons were born here, so they are also citizens. He said most of his family now lives in the United States so he doesn’t plan on going back to Mexico except to visit every once in a while.

Pulido plans to “do whatever I’m doing until I retire.” He is a single father of two children, Alex, 19, and Fernando, 7. His wife committed suicide in 2003, therefore, Pulido spends a lot of his time with his kids when he is not working.

Pulido owns his own landscaping company, Pulido Maintenance, and hopes to retire at the age of 60 hand down the family business to his sons.