Pablo Baca was nearly 5 years old when his father was deported to Mexico. The next day, his mother packed up the family’s belongings and moved with him and his two sisters to the Mexican town of La Excusa to be reunited with their father.

Nearly 10 years later, the town saw an increase in crime and cartel violence. Baca, who was born in the United States, was 14 years old; he and his older sister were sent back to California for their safety.

A couple of years later, Baca’s younger sister was sent to the U.S. to live with her siblings who, when not in school, were working in the fields.

“We’ve been working all the summers, every day, my sister and I, since the eighth grade,” Baca said. “Because my parents were in Mexico, they didn’t have the resources to be sending money to the United States, so when we needed new clothes or new shoes, we had to work for it. I’m glad things happened that way. I learned to appreciate things a lot.”

His parents sold all their belongings and began to plan to cross the Mexico-U.S. border. Not knowing when or if they would arrive safely, Baca continued to stay dedicated to school and work.

“I always knew I was going to college,” Baca said. “I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew I wasn’t going to let all the sacrifices my parents made go to waste.”

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