SILVER CITY, NM—WNMU student Ixchel Flores has the same challenges that most college students have, like balancing academics with all the other activities in her life. But each day, Flores has an additional task demanding her attention: checking in with her parents to make sure they have not been deported.

Flores (not her real name) is a first-generation American. Her parents came to the United States from Mexico City as part of an Aztec dance group. Through the group, said Flores, they had many opportunities to perform in the U.S., so they arranged to get visas and travelled with the other dancers.

"About 2004-2005, my parents' visas were about to expire," explained Flores, "but then my mom found out she was pregnant with me, so like many other immigrant parents, they made the decision to stay here—to overstay their visas—to give me a better life."

"My parents made the choice that they thought would be the best for their family," she added.

Since that time, her parents have been working hard, her father in construction and her mother cleaning offices at night, while raising their three children.

Flores said she feels that her parents are better Americans than many citizens. "I know of people who don't file their taxes," she said. "My parents do that every year. They have no criminal record. … If anything, my parents have had to work twice as hard to get us to where we are now."

Too often, said Flores, the negative spin on immigration is based on mistaken assumptions. In reality, she said, the decision to migrate is a complicated one. "There is a lot that goes into it," she said.

Flores said that the current immigration climate gives her a feeling of déjà vu, as she recalls how she felt after the 2016 election. "I feel like that eleven-year-old girl again—like scared. 'What if my dad doesn't come home from work? What if my mom can't pick me up from school?'"

Flores said those kinds of questions trouble her even more now because at WNMU, she is four hours away from her parents. To reassure themselves, her family has been regularly checking in with each other using Life 360, a location-sharing app.

If anything should happen to her parents, said Flores, she would be in charge of her two younger sisters, aged three and sixteen.

Knowledge of that responsibility means she has to think about finances in ways that many of her peers do not. "This year, I got a refund [from the university] because I have multiple scholarships because of my hard work," she explained. Rather than spending the money, she knew she needed to save it, in case at some point she needs to take care of her siblings.

The work ethic that earned Flores her scholarships is something she attributes to her parents. "My parents have always raised me to be a very hard-working person," she said, "and I think that goes for the majority of the immigrants in this country."

"I am so grateful for everything my parents have done, and that is why I am here [at WNMU]," she added. "That is why I am studying."

Throughout her experiences, one source of strength for Flores has been her cultural heritage. Like her parents, she is now an Aztec dancer herself. "The dancing mostly comes from family tradition. It is a big thing, especially in Mexico City," she explained. "We do it to honor la Virgen de Guadalupe and other santos."

"Each dance that we do symbolizes a different thing," Flores added. "So, for example, there is a dance called The Sun. [The dancing] is very oriented toward nature and the different Aztec gods. It all has a very spiritual meaning."

Flores has also taken strength from mental health therapy and from involvement in campus organizations.

"Therapy helps a lot," she said. "Just having somebody to talk to and make you realize that your fears are not irrational fears. Your fears are very much valid."

Flores also recommends MEChA and the Mental Health Alliance to undocumented students and students with undocumented family members. Flores said that both organizations regularly put on programs that support these students.

"It is so important to go to these kinds of events because you find so many other people going through what you are going through," she said. "It makes you feel better. It makes you feel more supported that you have a community."

Having a community can also help students find reliable sources of information. "Knowledge is power," she said. "For undocumented people, it is especially important to be educated about their rights. "The more they know about the rights they do have—I think that is the most important thing."

Flores also emphasized how important it is to find reliable sources and to consume information judiciously. The challenge, she said, is in finding balance between "staying up to date and fully going down the rabbit hole of what is going on."

Flores said that sharing her story publicly felt empowering. "I just took this opportunity to flip it and to gain back some of that power. … I am glad I can use my story to let other students know that they are not alone."