Undocumented immigrants filing paperwork to protect children because of Senate Bill 1070

After the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Senate Bill 1070, Mirian Heredia and her husband, Vladimir Gutierrez, are worried about what it could mean for their family.

 

"To me, it's as if they passed the whole thing. Even though they ruled out some other things, to me this is the worst," said Heredia.

 

Heredia said her parents brought her to the United States 17 years ago when she was a child.

 

Heredia and her husband are both undocumented immigrants but said they applied for their Visas four year ago but are still waiting to get final approval.

 

Gutierrez said he carries his Visa application paperwork in the glove compartment of his car.

 

"I can show this paper to immigration and show them I'm waiting for a Visa and I am in the process," said Gutierrez.

 

But despite their attempt to get legal status, the couple said they feel like they'll have to look over their shoulder when they pick up their children from school, go to church, or run errands because they'll be concerned they could get pulled over.

 

"We like to spend time together so that quality time that we try to have with our children but now that quality time is going to put us in a situation where both of us could be taken," said Heredia.

 

If they get arrested, the couple has prepared legal documents that would give custody of their three children to relatives.

 

"I just worry about the kids if they stop me or stop my wife, you know, how are we going to take care of this," said Gutierrez.

 

"The thing I worried about the most was my children. My children - being worried they would be taken away," added Heredia.

 

Carlos Galindo, President of the Immigrant Advocacy Foundation , said he has helped fill out 200 similar documents for other undocumented immigrants in the Valley.