Ariel and his son Sander walk down to the woods next to their current home in Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 28th, 2024. Ariel grew up in rural Nicaragua, where nature was part of his daily life.
Ariel holds a photo of Maricela, his wife, Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 28th, 2024. After Maricela passed away, Ariel deleted almost every photo he had of his wife on his phone because his son would constantly grab his phone, open her photos, and ask if he could see his mom.
Every day, Henry sits outside the building where he currently rents in downtown Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 27th, 2024. He watches life pass in front of him. He dreams of one day owning some land, but he believes it is just in God's hands.
Henry and Hailey stand outside the building where they rent an apartment in downtown Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 27th, 2024. They met back in Nicaragua 11 years ago. They miss Nicaragua everyday but don't see a fruitful future there.
Downtown Whitewater, Wisconsin on the evening of September 27th, 2024. Over the years, several Latino shops have opened in town, including furniture, beauty salons, and produce stores.
Esmelia, 27, from Nicaragua, holds her daughter before entering Spanish mass on Sunday morning at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 29th, 2024. Esmelia left Nicaragua, leaving her older daughter behind with her mom.
Adorns hang on a cross at the end of a road at Twin Oaks Mobile Home Park in Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 30th, 2024. The people at the park say that four years ago, a 6-year-old kid from Nicaragua was sexually assaulted and left on the field at the Mobile Park. Today, many Nicaraguan families live in this Mobile Park.
Families gathered at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 28th, 2024, for a confirmation celebration. The mass was dictated in Spanish and English, considering the large Hispanic population now living in Whitewater.
Ariel stands inside his room in Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 28th, 2024. He tries to go to church every Sunday, but it usually depends on whether he has a ride or not. He currently has no driving license and has been stopped in the past with no permit.
Rosaries and eucharist programs in Spanish and English are set at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Whitewater, Wisconsin, entrance for the 11:30 Spanish mass on Sunday morning, September 29th, 2024.
Sander asks his dad if he can wear his mom's jewelry, the only memory Ariel kept after she died in Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 28th, 2024.
Ariel and Sander get ready at their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin before they head out to visit some family in another town about two hours away from Whitewater on September 28th, 2024.
Brother Carlos and Donald Hernandez from Nicaragua (left to right) visit Luis Islas's store, La Tienda y Taqueria La Preferida, on Friday night to drink a few beers in Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 27th, 2024. Luis welcomes anyone to the store and makes them feel at home.
Chief Dan Meyer poses for a portrait at the lobby of the police station in Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 30th, 2024.
Eva Aranda points at Nicaraguan money that she keeps under glass at the register at her shop La Tienda y Taqueria La Preferida on September 27th, 2024 in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Monica walks across the street in downtown Whitewater, Wisconsin, to get tacos at La Tienda Mexicana "San José" on September 28th, 2024. Monica arrived in Whitewater 4 years ago alone leaving her two children behind with her mom. If you could do something that would give a better future for your children, wouldn't you? She asks. There is one thing she regrets and that is not to claim asylum.
Kids walk to catch their school bus in Twin Oaks Mobile Home Park on Monday morning in Whitewater, Wisconsin on September 30th, 2024. The Mobile Park is now home to many Spanish immigrants.
Baseball is the national sport in Nicaragua, and every Sunday many Nicaraguans gather to play the sport at Starin Park in Whitewater, Wisconsin, September 29th, 2024. They hope one day they can play against the" güeros," a nickname for Americans.
