Have you ever wondered what it feels like to grow up as the child of immigrants in the U.S.? To live in a country where you were born but never feel fully accepted?
At the Salesian Family Youth Center, we work with hundreds of children of immigrants, many of whom struggle with challenges few people talk about. They live in the shadows of immigration policies that directly impact their families. They carry responsibilities beyond their years—translating for their parents, navigating school alone, and fearing the possibility of deportation.
This is why we created a 24-minute documentary to amplify their voices. This is their story. Their reality. Their perspective.
A Life Between Two Worlds
For many of these young people, life is a constant struggle between two identities.
They were born in the U.S., but they don’t feel fully American.
They visit their parents' homeland, but there, they are seen as outsiders.
They love their parents’ traditions but are also shaped by a different culture.
They speak Spanish at home, but at school, they struggle with English and feel like they aren’t smart.
And perhaps the hardest part? Their parents, the people they love the most, work long hours to provide for them but are often unable to help them with school or spend much time with them.
The Silent Burden They Carry
From a young age, these children take on responsibilities many others never experience. They translate at doctor’s appointments, at school meetings, and even for legal matters—shouldering the weight of their parents’ struggles. They learn to navigate the world on their own, often feeling isolated and lost.
And behind it all, there is fear. Fear of immigration enforcement. Fear of losing family members. Fear of an uncertain future.
A Safe Haven & A Call for Change
At the Salesian Family Youth Center, we offer more than just programs—we provide a home away from homewhere these children feel safe, supported, and empowered. We help them with academics, social-emotional development, and most importantly, we remind them that they belong.
But we also recognize that this issue goes beyond our center. We need a just immigration system—one that balances opportunity and security, one that keeps families together, and one that values the dreams of the young people who call this country home.
Watch. Listen. Reflect.
This documentary presents a point of view rarely heard. It opens our eyes to a reality that many ignore.
So we invite you: Watch it. Share it. Let these voices be heard.
And after watching, ask yourself: What can I do to help?
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