(upbeat Spanish rap music)
So, my grandparents came from the Philippines,
in dreams of a better life.
The same story goes for a lot of people here in America.
This family has recently been going through that struggle
with immigration laws.
Piro, father and owner of Taqueria Gomez,
was deported a few weeks ago.
And we are here with his family
who are continuing his legacy.
(salsa music)
It started small as a family of four.
My dad, my mom, myself, and my sister.
Feeding our community, feeding people that
just like tacos and gorditas and everything.
And it's a unique blend of--
Your dad's from--
Guatemala and my mom's from Mexico.
So, it's a very unique different taste of food
and different ingredients, as well as, spices.
So, you must've grown up with dad like,
cooking up a storm.
And mom cooking up a storm.
Unfortunately, my dad got deported like three weeks ago.
He was always that kind of guy
that would just get up there and just toss stuff up.
And just whatever comes out, it's gonna be great.
My dad's the same way.
I call him the best chef I know
just because whatever he puts out
everybody loves, right?
Yeah, you can just give 'em like
a couple ingredients. Yeah.
We're gonna be makin' the famous gordita.
Put it on the fire for a little bit
so it'll be nice and crunchy.
(salsa music)
lettuce, tomatoes, avocado
grilled onions, cilantro, jalapenos
and a lime to it.
And that's the famous gordita.
Can I make something that Dad made?
We are going to do the famous Gringa.
Which is a concept of two flour tortillas
and now we put some pastor.
(upbeat rap music)
We got out famous stock with the 'tripa'
(upbeat rap music)
Mom's watching ya.
I see her, I see her.
(laughter)
- [Anai] We got our tostadas.
Lettuce, tomato, avocados on top.
And then we go our famous burrito.
(upbeat rap music)
Eyes closed, doing it like this.
(laughter)
What's your favorite?
Gordita.
Gordita. Yeah.
(salsa music)
Mmm, making dad proud.
Mmm, talking about my dad.
Dad's on the phone?
Yup
Dad's on the phone right now.
Hi.
I'm with Sheldon Production
Hey, good to see you.
(laughter)
You're taking a vacation huh?
Everything that I've tasted and I've seen is,
is amazing and delicious.
Right.
(laughter)
You taught them right.
There's Mom.
(laughter)
Alrighty, talk to you later.
Miss you too.
Nice hairdo by the way.
Bye.
(laughter)
Nice hairdo.
Right.
Never expected that it would be you on the other end
going through this process.
Somebody told me, "You know,
"your parent's will never get deported
"cause they're special people.
"They work hard, they have been working hard for years."
That comment was like at least two or a week ago
before my dad got detained.
My dad was waking up, taking the food truck to the
commissary to get washed.
I don't know, --
immigration just, he was opening the food truck
and he said that next thing he knows he
just noticed that he was just slammed in the floor.
As if he were a criminal or doing something.
Horrible.
My mom gets the call at like 5, 6 in the morning.
She's screaming down the hall,
"Your dad's just got caught up with immigration."
And I'm just waking up like,
"Wow, the worst nightmare you know."
Yeah.
He was just a loving person by everyone, everyone.
- [Sheldon] During this whole time the truck was still open.
Yup.
Everyday.
(laughter)
Bless your heart then.
I come in here whenever I want to get my mind
out of stuff and just create stuff.
(rhythmic music)
Since that incident happened with your dad,
how has business been?
Since the SB4 law has come around people just rather
just go home and just rather cook at home.
The SB4 law makes it so that any person of
law enforcement can question anybody.
Yup.
They are going to ask you for your papers.
For your social security number.
They're gonna ask you for this kind of questions.
So the whole community is living in fear now.
Yeah. It's tragedy They can't even come to
to just have food.
Just because they are afraid to go out.
At the same time there's a lot of bad people out there
and knowing that my dad is not here
that there is not a man in top of the house.
That's not fair.
Not two people like you guys.
There's obstacles after obstacles
and money after more money.
Marie tried to fix her papers with no lawyer.
We lost like $15,000, and nothing was done.
Then I recall some other people
might have it worse than I do.
So that's when I just tell myself,
"You're gonna shake it off."
So as a family of three now and just keep it together.
Yeah, you look to each other for strength.
We want it and we want it more than ever and
we're gonna get there.
Thank you.
(laughter)
Thank you.
What a crazy world that we live in.
I agree with you on that one.
I agree.
Huge population of Nigerian's here in Houston.
When they come into Cafe Abuja they have that moment
of just feeling of home.