Isidro Arroyo
Oral History Transcript
Oral History Audio
Name of Interviewer: Enrique Alvear
Date of Interview: June 8, 2016
Location: Chicago, IL
Language of Interview: Spanish
Originally from Amealco, Guerrero, Mexico, Isidro Arroyo finished elementary school in Amealco and then moved to Chilpancingo to attend middle school. After that, he could not afford to go to high school and he decided to migrate to the United States with the initial purpose of getting a job and saving money to help in the support of his family in Amealco. In 1973, Isidro first came to the United States by crossing the Tijuana-San Diego border, traveling to Los Angeles and then going directly to Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago, he lived with aunts and cousins in their house. As an 18 year-old undocumented immigrant, Isidro Arroyo was challenged by his lack of English skills and the scarcity of Mexican food in Chicago. At that time, Isidro started to work as a dishwasher at the Sheraton Hotel while he studied English as a Second Language in a Community College. After 3 years living in Chicago, he decided to go back to Amealco. There, he met his future wife and went back to Chicago crossing the Tijuana-San Diego border once again. One year later, he went back to Amealco, got married with his girlfriend, and came back together to Chicago. In 1986, Isidro and his wife obtained legal permanent residency through the amnesty provided by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). Five years later, Isidro and his wife naturalized as U.S. citizens. After several return trips to Amealco, Mexico, they decided to stay in Chicago and buy a house. In this period, Isidro began to work in a car dealership and became a father of four children. In 1988, Isidro Arroyo became the cofounder of the Club Amealco, which has been mainly focused on collecting funds and supporting development projects in Amealco, Guerrero, Mexico. Club Amealco is also dedicated to the promotion of the culture and traditions of Amealco in Chicago.
