Antonio’s visa was denied and he was forced to remain in Reynosa. The young couple forfeited the down payment at their wedding venue in Texas. Instead of starting their new life in Texas, Maria moved to Mexico, where she and Antonio were married. She commuted daily to her job on the U.S. side. In January 2017, as Donald Trump was taking office and just four months after being married, Maria was stopped at the border and her U.S. passport was confiscated. Later, she was told the revocation was due to the existence of a Mexican birth certificate in her name. But since she does not have a Mexican birth certificate, Maria has another theory: “Just having a Hispanic last name … that’s all you need for them to be triggered to investigate you,” she says. For months after her passport was taken, Maria was unable to visit Antonio in Reynosa. Finally, in January 2019, after fighting the U.S. government in court, she was able to get a new passport. “All that I’m doing is the legal route. I’m not asking my husband to come here illegally—no. I want to do things right,” she says. Regarding her court victory, she notes, “They can pretty much investigate me all they want. And if it takes years, that’s fine.” As Maria continues to wait to begin life in the U.S. with Antonio, she is well aware of the forces arrayed against them. “They don’t care,” she says, “cause I’m just one more number. One more chance for them to take citizenship away from someone. Like that’s an award for them.” Today, Maria is four months pregnant. She knows that Antonio will not be with her when she is due, and she will have to deliver their first child alone. But she is as determined and optimistic as ever: “I’m really looking forward to starting a family and seeing my kids grow up here … I really love the U.S.” III. Denial and revocation of documentation of U.S. citizenship 131