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Faces of Immigration

Photos, awards and other school trinkets fill a wall inside Modesta Velasco and her children's bedroom. For $500 a month, the family of four share one bedroom in a three-bedroom trailer in Immokalee. Allie Garza/Staff

Photo by ALLIE GARZA

Photos, awards and other school trinkets fill a wall inside Modesta Velasco and her children's bedroom. For $500 a month, the family of four share one bedroom in a three-bedroom trailer in Immokalee. Allie Garza/Staff

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  • Modesta Velasco lives in Immokalee with her three sons, Jesus Maya-Velasco, 6, Jose Maya-Velasco, 5, and Serviano Maya-Velasco, 3. She spends her days working in the fields and mornings and evenings caring for her children. Her husband, Ismael Maya, is currently serving out a 10-month sentence in Virginia for driving without a valid license and is facing deportation later this year. Allie Garza/Staff
  • After waking up at 4:00 a.m. to prepare breakfast and lunch for herself and her children, Modesta Velasco wakes her children up at 5:30 a.m. to get them ready for their day on Jan. 28, 2011. When Velasco has work, she normally wakes up at 4:00 a.m. to be ready for work by 6:30 a.m. Allie Garza/Staff
  • Jesus, Jose and Serviano, seen outside their home in Immokalee, look down at a stray cat on Feb. 8, 2011. After returning from school, the boys usually spend time outside, running around, playing with toy dinosaurs and found objects outside their home.Allie Garza/Staff
  • Photos, awards and other school trinkets fill a wall inside Modesta Velasco and her children's bedroom. For $500 a month, the family of four share one bedroom in a three-bedroom trailer in Immokalee. Allie Garza/Staff
  • Jesus Maya-Velasco, 6, holds an image of his family, which includes his father, Ismael Maya. Maya is serving a 10-month sentence in Virginia after having been arrested for driving without a valid license and faces deportation later this year. Allie Garza/Staff
  • Early mornings mean a quick breakfast for Modesta Velasco's three children, who have milk, animal crackers or sweet bread as their first meal of the day on Jan. 28, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • While one of their housemates cooks food for later in the day, Modesta Velasco makes breakfast for her children before leaving for a babysitter's house during the early morning of Feb. 2, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • Modesta Velasco attempts to quell Serviano Maya-Velasco's early-morning tantrum before leaving for the babysitter's house on Feb. 8, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • After breakfast, Modesta Velasco walks her children to a babysitter's house down the street before leaving for work around 6 a.m on Jan. 28, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • As the children settle in for their morning at the babysitter's, Modesta Velasco leaves for work on Feb. 2, 2011. Most mornings when Velasco has work, she must walk her children to a caretaker's home around 5:50 a.m. to make it in time to a local market where she will catch a bus for work. Allie Garza/Staff
  • While busses pick up workers at a variety of locations in Immokalee, this morning Modesta Velasco waits for work at a gas station off Immokalee Road across from the Seminole Casino on Jan. 28, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • While busses pick up workers at a variety of locations in Immokalee, this morning Modesta Velasco waits for work at a gas station off Immokalee Road across from Seminole Casino on Friday, January 28, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • While busses pick up workers at a variety of locations in Immokalee, this morning Modesta Velasco waits for work at a gas station off Immokalee Road across from Seminole Casino on Friday, January 28, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • After returning from school, Jesus, left, and Jose, far right, entertain themselves with homemade paper planes while their mother, Modesta, watches in their living room on Jan. 25, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • Modesta confirms that she has picked up her youngest son, Serviano Maya-Velasco, 3, from his bus stop in Immokalee on Jan. 25, 2011. Serviano attends an after-school program at the Redlands Christian Migrant Association in Immokalee. Allie Garza/Staff
  • Jesus, 6, and Jose, 5, walk back home while their mother waits for Serviano's bus to arrive on Feb. 8, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • Jesus works on homework while younger brothers Serviano runs toward the kitchen seeking an afternoon snack on Feb. 8, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff
  • Jesus, 6, Jose, 5, and Serviano, 3, play in their backyard after returning from school on February 1, 2011. While they are filled with energy, days usually wind down around 7 p.m. and start over again in the early morning. Allie Garza/Staff
  • After playing outside, Modesta Velasco bathes her sons in the bathroom the family shares with three other people in their trailer on Feb. 2, 2011. Allie Garza
  • Modesta Velasco watches a skit during a meeting on immigrant rights at Redlands Christian Migrant Association in Immokalee on Jan. 26, 2011. At the meeting, attendees learned what rights they had if they were arrested, what to do if they were arrested and where they could seek help. Allie Garza/Staff
  • Grey Torrico, a Naples resident who works with the Florida Immigration Coalition, speaks to an auditorium of people attending a meeting on immigrants' rights at Redlands Christian Migrant Association in Immokalee on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. Allie Garza/Staff

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