The following morning, Manuela felt a newfound sense of hope as she reached out with a message indicating her intention to seek legal counsel for her husband, Iván, who remained detained due to an impending removal order that had been in effect for almost a year. Despite knowing that legal assistance comes with significant financial burdens, especially considering her limited resources and knowledge about navigating the U.S. legal system, she found motivation in her desire to provide a better future for her daughter.
Manuela’s understanding of life in America was shaped primarily by experiences shared by fellow migrants and social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook, which often presented unreliable information. Living in New York posed particular challenges for her as an Indigenous Ecuadorian migrant with minimal formal education, making it difficult to complete everyday bureaucratic tasks. Her situation was exacerbated by the fact that she only learned about local nonprofit organizations offering legal services after Iván’s detention.
The couple still faced a significant financial burden, owing over fifteen thousand dollars to a cooperative in Ecuador that had initially lent them more than twenty thousand dollars to facilitate their treks from their home country to the United States. Coming from impoverished Indigenous Puruhá farming families, both Manuela and Iván had experienced loss and hardship. Iván had set off first to secure funds for his mother’s cancer treatment but tragically lost her while en route. Manuela and their two-year-old daughter, Nicole, followed, navigating their perilous journey through different countries to reach Iván in New York, only to face extortion by smugglers along the way.
Their quest for stability proved difficult amidst a growing influx of migrants seeking opportunities in New York. After relocating to Rochester, where Manuela found work as a hotel housekeeper, their marriage faced substantial strain. By early 2025, Manuela expressed a desire to separate from Iván due to his drinking habits, despite familial pressure to stay together. An uncle in Queens intervened, persuading her to maintain the relationship for the time being. Nevertheless, she posted a video on WhatsApp featuring Iván and Nicole, adorned with praying-hands emojis, and reflected on the possibility of giving second chances.
As they returned to Queens in June 2025, they were confronted with the harsh reality of Iván’s signed removal order. Despite numerous challenges and uncertainties, Manuela’s determination to seek legal help for Iván, along with her aspirations for her daughter’s future, encapsulate the resilience many migrants demonstrate amidst adversity. Their story highlights the emotional and financial complexities that accompany the immigrant experience, reinforcing the necessity for accessible support systems for those navigating similar circumstances.