Coming to a foreign place, learning a new language, finding a new job, making new friends: that’s the story of Severiana Tello-Teles, a Mexican immigrant and mother of three Perry Township students. Feb. 18 was when immigrants like her said “enough” and supported each other in unity to prove their being in the U.S. matters not just to them, but to natural born citizens as well.

“It was to show the world, the whole world we work,” said Severiana. “But, to make it work, we need everybody.”

Missing one day of work caused businesses to be understaffed, and stores owned by immigrants not to open. Missing one day of school made a difference to sophomore Esmeralda Tello-Tello, born in the U.S., making her feel proud to accompany her family staying home in peaceful protest.

Before the event occured, news spread mainly through Facebook, Severina and Esmeralda said. The mother-daughter duo stayed home alongside Severina’s husband and Esmeralda’s eighth grade brother and seventh grade sister, who both attend SMS. No one in the family got in trouble for missing due to their bosses and teachers understanding the importance of what occurred.

The protest, as the two summarized, was focusing on how much harder for America it would be to function without immigrants.

“It’s special (being an immigrant’s daughter) because you get to see another side of how they lived (in Mexico) and how you live,” Esmeralda said. “You learn to be a bit more grateful.”