Yaxal Nabil Sobrevilla

I was born in the vibrant city of Mexico City where my parents had made a home for us. We were forced out of our home in 1996 just as NAFTA was imposed. My father believed we could make a home again in Chicago and migrated to make a path for my mom, sister, and I to join him.

After 17 years of living in the United States, my family has continued to make a home in a country that does not acknowledge our existence. I will continue to talk about the inconsistencies of my legal status, to cultivate spaces where I can thrive with a community by my side, and resist in creative and unapologetic ways.

The Butterfly postcard campaign was developed by the UIC Latino Cultural Center in collaboration with student organizations Fearless Undocumented Alliance and Heritage Garden Student Group that highlights the parallels between the migration of people and Monarch butterflies across national borders.