“It’s wonderful to talk, even though I don’t know you.”

Marina Herrera highlighted the importance of speaking and listening with her narrative. Her story is representative of a different kind of migration with different motivations and results. From the beginning, Marina emphasizes, “I have a passport, I haven’t suffered any of the things happening to undocumented immigrants, but I have survived two domestic violence situations.”

Marina’s migration story begins with a sudden move to Santa Barbara, California. Marina recalls her partner at the time was in drug-related conflict and the pair needed to flee. Despite the move he did not stop using heroin. After eight-years, drugs, physical and emotional abuse, and multiple death threats Marina made another move─ she called the police and left her incarcerated husband.

During her husband’s incarceration, Marina made smart savings and headed to Chicago, IL with $4,000 and her daughter. She recalls sacrificing and scrimping to ensure she could safely escape with her daughter. In Chicago, Marina reconnected with her mother. Her mother was a tailor for the military and had to smuggle Marina so they could all have a place to stay. Marina recalls that an uncle quickly stepped in and helped her get a passport, which opened up many doors.

Unfortunately, Marina’s experiences with domestic violence were not over. Back on her feet, she met her second partner. Her new partner, however, grew up around violence and projected that onto his girlfriends and wives. Marina solemnly recalls how her partner neglected all of his children, beat the women in his life, and displayed cruelty towards Marina constantly. This situation caused Marina to become an alcoholic. She recalls working, driving, and living life drunk.  

During this relationship, Marina and her partner went through a severe accident. Her partner developed Cirrhosis of the liver and Marina was in a coma for a week. Marina recalls this accident was terrible, but it also reduced her partner’s ability to abuse. However, she emphasized he would never change his violent ways. She says, “If I forgave, I forgave, but I don’t hate him, I don’t know that word.” Marina still hurts from this partnership because she felt like, “I helped him a lot, truly. It doesn’t hurt because I love him. It hurts because he is ungrateful.”

Through it all Marina recalls the importance of her children. She negotiated with her ex-partner to ensure her son could have a father. Despite the pain and hurt she felt, she wanted to act in the best interest of her son. However, the relationship had long term consequences in Marina’s life. Once the relationship was over, Marina faced the exile of her family. They were unhappy with how long it took Marina to leave and the danger she placed her family in with her actions.

Marina’s accident left her with renewed hope despite the struggles she was facing. She took her survival as a sign from God that she was meant to live. This sign has helped Marina let go of the residual pain and anger. Marina recalls how God has given her a new catharsis─ crying. She says, “It the only thing I can do sometimes, to cry, cry, cry…I want to cry and it feels nice, not out of suffering but out of peace.”

“And I have a surprise for you both, since my accident I hadn’t been able to dream but last week I have.”

Marina’s story is a powerful reminder that immigrant women face intersectional challenges. Marina did not face the traditional immigrant challenges of documentation and deportation. Yet, her narrative is marked with migration, movement, and change. As a woman, domestic violence survivor, and an immigrant Marina needed resources and an ear ready to listen to her. She has found both in her family and Taller de Jose. Marina is once again dreaming, ready to start a new chapter.

Written by Cristina Nunez