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La inmigración hispana en Estados Unidos (Hispanic Workers in the United States)(2024)

Hispanic immigration has played a significant role in shaping the cultural, economic, and political landscape of the United States. From early Spanish colonization to contemporary waves of migration, Hispanic immigrants have made lasting contributions to American society. Living in Florida and traveling to various cities across the country has heightened my awareness of the complexities of Hispanic immigration, which I believe is crucial for understanding modern America.

I would like to give a big thanks to my participants: Luis José Fuentes Rojas, Richard Rojas, Marina Rojas, Beatriz Roja (Manager), and Stephany Gómez for their time, trust, and willingness to share. For me, this photo essay is not only an investigation of Hispanic workers on campus but I also want to honor their hard work and bravery to be here whether voluntarily or not. Everyone comes from a story, a story that deserves to be told.

To access an interactive photo essay with interviews, please click here.

Palombo

Joel Palombo (Italian American) & Anja Berg Palombo (German)

In 1988, Anja came to the USA for the first time in her 20s for education and met Joel, who was raised and born in Detroit. They have lived in Arizona, Turkey, and India, teaching and traveling with their two kids. In between, Anja went back a couple of times to her home country, Germany. Now, they reside in Sarasota and have lived in this house for more than 10 years.

Street vendor license of Joel’s grandpa who was the first Italian immigrant of their family to the United States.

Home in the sense that it feels comfortable. And you feel comfortable. And you know how things generally function. And what to expect. And you know how the people are.

Anja Berg Palombo

Sae Lee

Thairat Sae-Lee, Thammarat Lee, Nopparat Sae-Lee, Boonyarat Sae-Lee (Thai)

Before moving to the USA in 2016 for better education for their kids, the Sae-Lee family ran a jeans factory in their neighborhood and all of the workers knew each other well, just like a big family. They have operated a restaurant called Hideko 2 since 2017 from scratch, learning from the first Thai family they met here who owned the first and original Hideko in Palmetto. They plan to move back to Thailand when their daughter graduates.

Mr. Sae Lee got this silk for Nopparat from a local fabric shop. Nopparat has kept it since he was three years old. The material is designed to cool down because he doesn't like heat.

Culture shock, I think when I see her for the first time go to school, the education, is different. I cannot help her with homework, I cannot advise, I cannot help anything about her homework, because when I grow up, I study differently. It's just the way that they teach or the way that they, you know, they conduct the education, or give the homework, is different from what you know, or what we have in Thailand.

Thairat Sae-Lee

Wachira

Anthony Wachira, Jedida Wachira, Maxwell Wachira, Gabriel Wachira, Vince Too, Cecilia Ndungu (Kenyan)

Jedida (Jade) came to the USA by herself in 1997 for better education and life; her husband Anthony joined her two months later. Since then, they have supported each other and formed the Wachira family of five. They lived in Japan from 2016 to 2017 and are now settled in Sarasota, where Jade’s mom Cecilia lives out her retirement with Vince, her younger brother who came in 2015 for school and recently moved to Oklahoma for work.

“We love taking pictures! Our eldest son moved out from the house and now only four of us living together” - Jade. A series of Wachira family pictures at their door entrance.

I missed her a lot but at the same time, I was excited because she's coming to do something new. And she's doing better for herself, so it was not painful, but at the same time, I don't know how to put this, it was painful... It was good, but at the same time, it was also scary for me because I didn't, we didn't have any body here. She was coming all alone. She was very young. It was an exciting and difficult. And I really missed her.

Cecilia Ndungu

Samberg

Liza Verdugo (Mexican), Christopher Samberg (American), Heaven Samberg (Mexican American)

Since Liza was a kid, her original family regularly visited the USA for vacations. She started to dream about Hollywood, Disney, and all types of American dreams. In search of work and to be with her family, who had moved to the States for a better life, she relocated herself. She met Christopher in Phoenix, and they had Heaven, who is 7 months old. They now reside in Sarasota since 2018.

“I start praying, read my Bible every day…God can you give me a house? I wanted two rooms with a garage. He gave me this house so it's like everything you rely on God, and it's not as hard as looking for homes,” - Liza

I always felt like an outsider when I visit home in Mexico. It was a time when I was very young, you know, at first, they told me when I was little... Why don't you listen to our music, you listen to American music? Why you don't drink all day like us? Why you don't drink alcohol? Why you don't party day and night? Why you like to travel around the world? Why you like international life?

Liza Verdugo