Yosimar Reyes explores lives of the undocumented in Teatro Vision show

"As Santa Clara County's first undocumented poet laureate, claiming that honor in 2024-2025, Reyes built the foundations of his artistry in the enclave as a young undocumented child, learning valuable lessons about the power of community despite living amongst fellow targets in the early 1990s. The state's anti-immigrant sentiment peaked in 1994 with Proposition 187, an initiative aimed at denying essential services such as healthcare and education to the state's undocumented immigrants."

"Reyes recalls those days as a 6-year-old with vivid clarity. While the fears and anxiety among immigrants in the early 90s were palpable, there is also a fondness for the memories of how his community, led by the heart and soul of his beloved grandmother Mardonia Galeana, came together to fight the power at the only apartment complex they could find that didn't ask for a Social Security number on the application."

"We knew who sold sodas, candies or tamales, and even though we were all strangers, we became familiar with each other because we were trying to survive in this country, said Reyes, who has been outspoken about his own DACA status over the years. We knew through word of mouth who would hire you, or who could give you rides, and you really learned how undocumented people created networks of familiarity out of being strangers."

Yosimar Reyes grew up near Story and Capitol in San Jose and developed his artistry as an undocumented child. Anti-immigrant sentiment peaked in 1994 with Proposition 187, which sought to deny healthcare and education to undocumented immigrants. Reyes remembers fear alongside fond memories of community organizing led by his grandmother Mardonia Galeana. Contemporary ICE tactics inform his theatrical response. Reyes created No Llegamos Aqui Solos from two years of collected stories in East San Jose and Mayfair. The play premieres at Teatro Vision and runs through Feb. 22 at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Reyes has been outspoken about his DACA status.

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