
StoryCorps Shorts: A Mother's Promise
Special | 2m 54sVideo has Closed Captions
Maria Rivas and her daughter prepare for her to lose her legal immigration status.
Maria Rivas and her teenage daughter, Emily, are preparing for the possibility of Maria returning to El Salvador if she loses her Temporary Protected Status to live and work legally in the U.S. Maria reminds her daughter of the promise she made to her.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, the Open Society Foundations and the...

StoryCorps Shorts: A Mother's Promise
Special | 2m 54sVideo has Closed Captions
Maria Rivas and her teenage daughter, Emily, are preparing for the possibility of Maria returning to El Salvador if she loses her Temporary Protected Status to live and work legally in the U.S. Maria reminds her daughter of the promise she made to her.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipEmily (E): What was it like for you to come here, to the U.S.?
Maria Rivas (MR): I didn't know besides, "Good morning, and "What's your name?"
when I came here.
And when you were baby, I, I used to read to you the Dr. Seuss books.
Like "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."
And that's how I learned English, reading to you.
E: You know, I, I never really put in much thought that you were an immigrant.
I just thought that, you know, you're my mom.
And I never thought that you would have to leave.
I was at school when my phone buzzed, and I just saw the notification that TPS was going to terminate.
And I remember I started crying.
MR: When you called me, I tried to calm you down.
I am like, "Okay, this is happening.
This is really happening."
So I put myself together, because I knew that I have to be strong for you.
And I didn't promise something that I cannot keep.
So I didn't promise you that everything will be okay.
But I promise, I'm going to make sure that you are okay.
E: What are you most afraid of?
MR: I..terrified of missing you growing up.
It's terrifying.
I think that I'm more afraid of that than to go back to my country.
E: Yeah.
I'm scared that I'm gonna have to do everything all by myself.
MR: You're not going to be alone, I promise to you that.
And I'm very hard to get rid of.
E: [Laughs] MR: So I'm going to be on the phone all the time.
E: What are your hopes for the future?
MR: That I'm going to die of an old age, and be the pain on your neck all the time.
[Laughs] E: [Laughs] MR: And make sure that you find strength, even in a bad moment.
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Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, the Open Society Foundations and the...