With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
After deportation, what it’s like working at a call center
Listen
• 39:08
Daniel Zamora at the U.S.-Mexico border wall in 2022.
(
Courtesy of Lorena Rios
)
Topline:
Part 2 of "Imperfect Paradise: Return to Mexico" follows Daniel Zamora after he was deported from the U.S. to Mexico in 2011, separated from his boyfriend, his family and his life in the states.
Finding work: Zamora’s first job back in Mexico was at a call center as a bilingual customer support agent serving a U.S. phone company. He said a lot of his coworkers were also returnees, spoke English and had some sort of relationship to the U.S.
“A lot of people miss the U.S. and I think that's one of the reasons why people ended up working at the call center,” said Zamora. “It was a kind of connection to the U.S. and it made you feel like you hadn't lost everything”
Support for LAist comes from
Zamora’s work day started at 6:45 a.m. He’d enter into a dimly lit warehouse full of desks, with two big towers where the supervisors sat observing everyone’s screens. He’d log onto his computer and start taking calls, trying to average less than three minutes a call to earn a bonus.
“There were mainly complaints about the service, like, ‘I'm at the store and they don't have this phone in blue and I want it in blue,’” Zamora said. “I had this feeling that I had everything taken away from me…and then, when I was at work, I was hearing people complaining about silly things and it was just upsetting."
Daniel Zamora looking out into Ciudad Juarez in 2022.
(
Courtesy of Lorena Rios
)
What else is in the episode: Lead reporter Lorena Ríos tells the story of Zamora’s transitional year in Mexico as he waits for news of his deportation appeal, while trying to maintain his cross-border relationship. The episode also dives into Zamora’s childhood and why and how he came to the U.S. as a teenager.
How can I listen? Here's Part 2:
Listen
• 39:08
Listen
• 39:08
Return to Mexico: Part 2
Daniel Zamora waits for the decision on his deportation appeal and has to figure out how to make a life in Mexico — find work, get an apartment. All the while, Daniel tries to keep up his cross-border relationship. Lorena Ríos reports.
New episodes of Imperfect Paradise: Return to Mexico publish Wednesdays wherever you get your podcasts, on LAist.com, and on broadcast at LAist 89.3 the following Sunday.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.
Best of LAist