In April, Jenny Reynoso celebrated her 18th birthday. A senior at St. Edward Central Catholic High School, Reynoso was home in Elgin, much like the rest of students in the U.S, learning remotely in compliance with shelter-in-place orders because of COVID-19.
Reynoso’s friends arranged for a drive-by parade to help her celebrate. She was with her mother, Maria and two younger brothers, Johnny and Joshua. But her father, Lazaro Reynoso, was over 1,500 miles away in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Lazaro has been in Juárez since June 2019, awaiting permission to return to the United States. While applying for U.S. citizenship last year, his visa was denied, despite the fact that Lazaro lived in the U.S. since age 11, is married to a U.S. citizen, and owned and operated a successful recycling business for 16 years. The business, in his absence, has consequently shut down, putting his employees out of work.
On her birthday, Jenny received texts from her father.
“He told me he’s proud of who I am, what I’ve done,” said Jenny. “I will admit, I cried a lot that day, about my Dad, how we’re not together during these times. My Dad told me he was very sad, missing me reaching a milestone.”
“It definitely wasn’t what I expected my 18th birthday would be like,” she said.
While he awaits permission from the U.S. Embassy to return home, he rents a small room in Juárez and works in a laundromat, earning 20 pesos — the equivalent of one dollar — each day.
Meanwhile, the outbreak of COVID-19 has added even more obstacles to the family’s already complicated situation. Jenny’s mom, Maria, is no longer working her factory job since it closed down in March because of the virus. Jenny continues her part-time job at a coffee shop, which remains open as an essential business.
‘The embassy is closed’
Lazaro’s sister, Alex Velazquez, a business owner in Huntley, talks to her brother every day.
“I tell him, ‘Check your email. Make sure you are checking every day,’ He says he does, but the office of the embassy is closed. COVID-19 has delayed this matter. He doesn’t even have the chance to ask, ‘how is the case?’”
Alex says her brother is maintaining his signature positive outlook, but admits he has good and bad days. “He was so down on Jenny’s birthday,” says Alex. “That was tough, a special occasion. Also, Mother’s Day. Our Mom is buried here and we usually go to the cemetery. On special occasions like that, he is down.”
‘I love my parents’ relationship’
Each evening, Jenny overhears her mother and father talking on the phone. Often, she’ll pop in and say hello, and her brothers routinely say good night to their Dad.
“My Dad is very humorous. Anybody in my family, when they’re asked who is the funniest or who is the favorite uncle, it’s always my Dad. He’s always cracking jokes, always making everyone laugh at our little family reunions and bonfires. My favorite thing was always waking up and hearing my dad making jokes and my Mom laughing really hard,” says Jenny. “I love my parents and their relationship,” says Jenny. “Even though he’s not here, over the phone, I hear my mom laughing. They always try to find a bright side of things, even though he’s not here.”
Lazaro’s family holds out hope that they will get good news by August or September of this year. Still, Jenny is painfully aware of the slow process of U.S. citizenship with high stakes. While working at a pumpkin patch last fall, Jenny bonded with a co-worker, coincidentally going through a similar situation.
“For her, it was different,” said Jenny. “Her Mom got the 10 year penalty. [Her family] will have to wait 10 years until they can hear an answer.”
“I try to reach out to people who are going through the same thing, letting them know I keep them in my prayers,” Jenny said. “I pray every night, and I even pray at work, when I’m washing dishes.”
Alex remains hopeful that her brother and his family will stay healthy as the pandemic rages around them. She says community members have shown their support to the family with prayers, phone calls, and even toilet paper and gift cards for groceries.
“When I talk to my brother and Maria, I know they’re okay,” says Alex. “Then I thank God for a new day.”
