Tell us about your family’s roots.

My family immigrated from Ireland sometime in the late 1800s. Their path to America is unclear but based on family research, we believe they may have been undocumented. After passing through Canada, they settled in Northwest Iowa.

What is your family’s migration story?

My grandfather was likely the first generation born in America. He served in World War I, started an auto repair shop that grew into a dealership, and later bought a farm. He also was elected to the city council in Shenandoah, Iowa and when he died in 1980 it was front page news in the local paper.

I think about their journey when confronted with the brutality current immigrants face. Members of my family, all of whom were white, were able to work without threat of deportation or arrest. They were able to flourish, and so it could be for current immigrants if only they were allowed to do so.