In the Country We Love: My Family Divided

Michelle Burford is a Harvard-trained memoir collaborator, a New York Times bestselling author, and a founding editor of The Oprah Magazine. Her writing credits include memoirs by musician Alicia Keys, celebrity carpenter Clint Harp, and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.

Guerrero’s father, Hector, is a well-groomed, hardworking man who moves from Colombia to the US in pursuit of a better life. He works for low wages in restaurants and factories during his time in Boston. His fear of the authorities keeps him from completing his application for amnesty under the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. Papi and Guerrero have a close relationship until his deportation. His love for his daughter drives him to keep in touch with her, even when she pushes him away. After more than a decade in Colombia, Papi still dreams of moving back to the US to be closer to Guerrero.

Guerrero’s mother, Maria, is as hardworking and loving as Papi. She works as a babysitter and housekeeper during her years in Boston. She is bolder than Papi in immigration matters, as evidenced by her move to reopen an old green card application, which puts her on ICE’s radar and ultimately leads to her deportation. She and Guerrero have a complicated relationship post-deportation. Her complaints about the hardships of living in Colombia make Guerrero feel unheard. Despite her difficult circumstances, Mami builds a new life for herself, finding work, familial love, and happiness in the wake of trauma.