As part of Undocu-Ally Week, we’ve asked undocumented students to share their stories and explain what it means to have support from the Marquette community. Today we’re sharing the story of Maria Tijerina, a second-year student in the Master of Student Affairs in Higher Education program.
For more information on how you can get involved in Undocu-Ally Week programming, visit the diversity homepage.
For years, I felt lost between two worlds. I believed I had lost the right to call myself Mexican after countless hours spent assimilating — my accent erased, my heritage silenced, and my Spanish confined to the walls of my home. Yet, at the same time, I was told I wasn’t American either, because my worth hinged on a nine-digit social security number. I was being told to love my heritage but was looked down upon when it was different from everyone else’s and isolated when I didn’t look Mexican enough. Caught between these identities, I lost sight of who I truly was.
As I grappled with this internal conflict, the only identity I thought I had left was that of an “illegal immigrant.” For years, I let this label define me. It carried the weight of constant fear — a fear that kept me awake at night, uncertain of what tomorrow might bring. I felt trapped in a legal system that demanded silence when all I wanted to do was scream.
However, everything began to change when I came to Marquette University. Here, I found a community that valued my story, supported my journey, and helped me realize that my experiences hold power — not in spite of my struggles, but because of them. I started to see the strength in my heritage, the resilience in my journey, and the empowerment in my identity. I found the space to reclaim who I am and to shatter the labels that had confined me for so long. Embracing the freedom to define myself, I have chosen to be undocumented, unafraid, and unapologetic.
Marquette University is committed to supporting undocumented students through various resources and initiatives aimed at fostering inclusion and belonging. Marquette Dreamers, including DACA recipients and those without work authorization, have access to various services. For more information, visit the Undocumented Student Resources page, get involved in the Marquette DREAMers student organization (@marquettedreamers on Instagram), or contact Dr. Jacki Black, chair of the Dreamers Support Committee.
