Alex + Erin
Alejandro Paz Medrano immigrated to the US from Mexico in 2005. He moved immediately to Pennsylvania, settling in the small south central town of Hanover.
Alejandro, or Alex as friends now call him, met his wife Erin Elizabeth Messinger in 2007, when he took an English class at the public library taught by her sister. Erin’s sister had let her know that there was this great guy in her class who was always helping out and doing good deeds in the community. They became fast friends.
Erin fell in love with Alex even before they started dating in 2013. As she describes it, they “built a romantic relationship off of a strong friendship.” In 2016, they married and Alex joined Erin’s family like he was always there. Erin’s dad calls him his “hijo.”
In 2018, Erin became very ill. At the time she worked as a volunteer coordinator at United Way and it was only through Alex that she was able to remain working for an additional year. He would drive her to work every day. Her job organizing events was very physical and he would do all of that labor for her, then leave at the end of a full day to go to his own job into the nighttime. Ultimately, Erin’s illness progressed so much that she was unable to work anymore. For more than a year, without Alex’s support, she would not have been able to even take a bath or get off of the couch. Alex saved her. With treatment, Erin has been able to return to a part time position, while Alex continues to support the family through construction work. Alex has had to turn down promotions and more because of the work visa problem which has been financially tough on the family.
Alex came to Pennsylvania and loves Hanover because it’s a small town where people are very kind, very peaceful. And of course, it is the town that his wife grew up in. Together, they sit in front of their home in the evenings talking to passersby and in the early morning they walk together on a nature path at the end of their street where they often see deer and other wildlife. Alex loves Pennsylvania for its natural areas and appreciates the amazing changes that seasons bring. In Mexico he lived in the capital, and to leave the overwhelming people and rush of Mexico City for a beautiful quiet town like Hanover is a dream.
Alex’s immigration status has had an impact on the couple in many ways. Erin has traveled twice to Mexico to spend time with her in-laws and Alex’s large family. They have embraced her with so much love but it has been a wonderful experience tempered with sadness that Alex cannot travel with her, see his mother in person, be ready to return when people get ill.
Alex and Erin have a beautiful life. But one thing that they never talk about is what would happen if Alex was deported. They know each day it is a risk but it is so tortuous to discuss they simply avoid even thinking about it. Instead, they take each day at a time never knowing when it will be their last together.
