"The crisis began when they had to move. Her eldest son was the only one working and his earnings weren't enough to cover all of the family's expenses. This 53-year-old Mexican woman who has lived in the United States for 25 years went ahead and tried to find formal employment. However, without papers, she had limited options. The context didn't help, either: it's increasingly difficult for immigrants to find stable work."
"The process isn't easy. She has to spend at least a whole day buying ingredients: tomatoes, beef, pork and masa (corn flour). You have to choose [everything] carefully, at good prices but [the ingredients have to be of] very good quality, because you can't risk someone getting sick from your food. Especially since you don't have a permit; it's all homemade, the woman explains."
"She prefers not to be identified, for fear of being arrested and deported. Women make tamales in Chicago, in December 2023.Erin Hooley (AP) After the shopping, the sauce is made, the meat is cooked for five hours, the chili is prepared ground and strained and the dough is kneaded. Each tamale is filled and carefully wrapped in corn husks. And, finally, they're placed in large steamers."
A 53-year-old undocumented Mexican mother in Dallas turned to making tamales to support her family after a move left her household with insufficient income. Her eldest son worked but his earnings could not cover expenses and she lacked legal papers for formal employment. Two children require ongoing autism therapy, increasing financial pressure. With help from her sister and church members, she prepares traditional tamales—buying ingredients, slow-cooking meats, preparing sauces and masa, wrapping in corn husks, and steaming. The family works long hours starting at 3 a.m., sells tamales after Sunday Mass, and fears arrest and deportation.
Read at english.elpais.com
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