Undocumented Motherhood: Conversations on Love, Trauma, and Border Crossing

Claudia Garcia, a Mexican woman, migrated to the US with her toddler, Natalia, because she could not hear. She faced challenges advocating for her daughter's health and discovered that being undocumented meant living a way of life, mothering, and being discarded by institutions. Elizabeth Farfan-Santos spent five years with Claudia and witnessed her struggles with doctors and teachers, which enforced her undocumented status and perpetuated her disability. Claudia is lifted up by her comadres and reminded why she must care for herself. This book reveals what remains undocumented in the motherhood of Mexican women who make impossible decisions and sacrifices to build a future for their families.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 18 October 2022
Publisher: University of Texas Press

Claudia Garcia, a mother from Mexico, made the difficult decision to cross the border due to her toddler, Natalia's, hearing impairment. She left behind her familiar life in Mexico, embarking on a perilous journey alone with her young child. Claudia vividly recounts the terror and challenges she faced during her migration, including advocating for her daughter's health in the United States. Upon arriving in Texas, she discovered that being undocumented would not only affect her immigration status but also shape her way of living, mothering, and being treated by institutions she relied on.

Elizabeth Farfan-Santos, a writer, spent five years documenting Claudia's experiences and her own mother's story, which was also influenced by migration, the US-Mexico border, and the pursuit of a healthy future on both sides. Through Claudia's struggles with doctors and teachers, Elizabeth highlights how the education and medical systems enforce undocumented status and perpetuate disability. Claudia's journey takes a painful turn when she is struck by debilitating pain. However, she is supported by her comadres, who take her to the doctor and remind her of the importance of self-care.

This book is a captivating braided narrative that explores the undocumented aspects of motherhood among Mexican women who face impossible decisions and make numerous sacrifices as they build a future for their families. It sheds light on the experiences of these women, who navigate complex legal and social barriers while striving to provide for their loved ones. Through their stories, the book highlights the resilience and strength of these mothers, who endure hardship and adversity with unwavering determination.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781477326121