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Widow must travel to U.S. to get benefits
By Susan Ferriss - sferriss@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Raquel Orostico, 72, at right, dances to cumbia music in the kitchen of Annunciation House, a migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas. Orostico is the widow of a U.S. citizen who worked in Los Angeles restaurants. To collect survivor's Social Security benefits, Orostico must travel to the U.S. from her home state of Veracruz, Mexico, twice a year. She must remain on U.S. soil for a month each time. Fatima Carmona, 28, at left, was in El Paso accompanying her younger sister, who collects Social Security benefits through her late father, who was also a U.S. citizen. Ashley Lowery/Special to The Bee /
EL PASO -- Raquel Orostico, 72, could still swivel her hips to Latin cumbia music.
She danced in the kitchen of Annunciation House, a shelter founded in the 1980s as a refuge for Central American illegal immigrants escaping war.
Today's illegal immigrants can get a bed and a meal here if they're in dire need. Orostico, though, was lucky enough to have permission to be on U.S. soil.
In fact, even if she doesn't want to be on U.S. soil, she has to be.
She's the widow of a Mexican immigrant who worked for two decades in Los Angeles restaurants. She never moved to the States. Her husband, who became a U.S. citizen, used to return to their home state of Veracruz to visit.
Social Security laws require that if Orostico is to collect her survivor's benefits, she must travel twice a year to the United States and stay at least a month each time.
Perched on the edge of her bunk bed here, Orostico rummaged through her suitcase and pulled out a copy of Ricardo Padilla's retirement fund information. She receives $600 a month, which is well worth the trip.
She's concerned about the future, though: "Will I still be doing this, having to wheel my suitcase over that border bridge, when I'm more than 80 years old?"
She wasn't the only widow here. Petra Martinez, 50, was married to a U.S. citizen who worked Chicago. Her daughter Julia, 18, receives $350 a month in benefits until she is 21. Petra will receive the money once she turns 63.
For now, she said, that money is vital to get Julia through high school and into college.
"She has to hurry, and get that degree," Orostico said, patting Julia's shoulder.
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