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 Diety Madrid Gramajo de Cifuentes left her native Guatemala, towards the latter part of the 90’s and with her husband Freddy Cifuentes settled in Oklahoma City in 1985 in search of a better future. A young girl full of dreams and hopes originally from Puerto Barrios, Izabal, Guatemala, felt welcomed in Oklahoma City, however in her new home awaited many hardships and obstacles.
Her father Ricardo Humberto, member of the Guatemala’s Navy, was always against her coming to America, and did everything possible to discourage her. But as a proud father admired and respected her strong will and eventually accepted her judgment.
In her native Guatemala, Madrid became a teacher, also became certified as a legal secretary and notary at the University of San Carlos in Guatemala. Unfortunately, most of this knowledge will serve of no purpose without the mastering of the English language.
Due to financial responsibilities Madrid did whatever was necessary to get ahead, from cleaning houses, to taking computer and English language classes. Due to political tension in her land, at the beginning of the 60’s, many of her countrymen, migrated to the United States. Most of them with unjust or unfair stories.
Madrid realized that her people were in need of certain services. such It was then in 2002 that ‘Servicios Hispanos Fremi’ was born.
Her business would allow her the opportunity to provide the Hispanic community with services such as translations, ticket sales, legal services, typical clothing and crafts.
This need to serve the Hispanic community was embedded in her, at an early age, by her mother Clara Estela Gramajo.
The operating of Fremi gave Madrid the key opportunity to every community services in Oklahoma.
Her mother, Clara Estela Gramajo, who took her to every community function possible, while serving as Public Health Ministry, embedded that quality of dedication to others in her.
While operating her business, Madrid saw the need to offer consulate services to Guatemala’s people here in the state. She contacted the Guatemala Consulate in Houston and presented them with this matter. Currently Servicios Hispanos Fremi offers consular services and Madrid herself coordinates the visits to Oklahoma by the Consulate. It was precisely this Consulate under the leadership of Julio Roberto Fong, which serves the territories of (Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma) where it is estimated that about 250,000 live, named Madrid on June 14, 2008 as Lead Counselor for Assessment Committee to serve the Guatemalan immigrants at local and international level. Madrid also has been named as a spokesperson for Organizations of Guatemalans living abroad before Conamigua.
Conamigua was created as an effort by the government of Guatemala through their Exterior Relations Ministry. Its purpose is to coordinate, supervise and lobby state agencies in order to assist citizens of Guatemala. In the United States there are 11 general consulates of Guatemala and each of them has a Conamigua representative and substitute. Madrid forms part of this distinguished group that today tackles great challenges and responsibilities. This energetic woman, many times felt that her chances of pursuing her career were very slim since most of her effort went to her family. But her position with Conamigua has allowed her to shine while working diligently with her people regardless the many sacrifices this may have entailed.
Her position requires many trips to her native land and to Washington, D.C. where her mission includes lobbying for immigration reform, a better quality of life for her people, and the cease of raids. Through her work with fellow Guatemalans and her own personal experiences, Madrid has become their friend and personal adviser to many, expressing her people’s willingness to arrive to this country by any means necessary, regardless of dangers or mishaps in order to achieve the American dream.
Madrid says that in her opinion that most people that immigrated to Oklahoma from her country have managed to live peacefully and somewhat successful lives. But many of them were ordered to abandon the State based on the criteria of the HB 1804 proposal that became state law, November 1st, 2007. This law makes it illegal to hire, transport, harbor or hide any undocumented individuals. Based on this law Oklahoma had massive raids, arrests were made and deportation proceedings were ordered for dozens of Guatemalans.
More than 3,100 Guatemalans were deported in October 2008, a much higher number in comparison to a monthly average from 2,500 to 2,800. In 2009 the prospects are not promising since more than 12,017 Guatemalans including 1,300 minors have been deported, between 2nd of January to 10th of June. One of Madrid’s many responsibilities at a local level as representative of the Guatemalan government is to coordinate meetings with local authorities, such as Oklahoma City Major, Mick Cornett, Governor Brad Henry and Oklahoma City Chief of Police William Citty, and many distinguished leaders of the Guatemalan government. These meetings are planned with the sole purpose of acknowledging the efforts of the Guatemalan government in fighting illegal immigration and serve also as an invitation to the local authorities to join efforts.
In the same manner these meetings have also served the purpose of recognizing the support and counseling that Guatemala makes available to the people living in this country or in Guatemalan territory.
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La saludo respetuosamente, deseandole exitos en sus actividades. Fue un gusto hablar con usted telefonicamente, actualmente vivo en la ciudad de Tulsa, OK, cuando tenga la oportunidad puede comunicarse conmigo. Hasta pronto.
Hein