From Deportation to Empowering Latinas with Gicela Holguin

Gicela Holguin story tells us what it truly means to build a life across borders. To leave behind everything familiar and forge a new identity in an unfamiliar world? Gicela Hogan’s story offers a powerful look into the immigrant experience, marked by sacrifice, resilience, and an eventual journey of self-discovery. Her path, winding from Colombia to the United States and finally to Canada, is not just a geographical journey but a deeply personal one. It reveals the complex layers of trauma, identity, and the eventual triumph of turning hardship into a source of strength.

Today, Gicela is a holistically embodied business coach. She empowers women by helping them transform their own traumas into superpowers. Her approach acknowledges the unique cultural, social, and emotional challenges that many women face. Gicela’s story is a powerful testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity and create a life of purpose.

Early Life in Colombia for Gicela Holguin

Gicela spent her early childhood in Colombia. From a young age, she sensed the financial struggles her family faced. She vividly remembers her parents having to ask her if they could open her piggy bank to buy dinner. This experience instilled in her a deep awareness of the sacrifices her parents were willing to make. It also highlighted the limited opportunities available to them in their home country.

At the age of seven, Gicela’s parents made the life-altering decision to immigrate. They considered both the United States and Canada as potential destinations. For Gicela, this meant leaving behind the only home she had ever known, including her beloved grandmother. As an immigrant child, she felt powerless amidst these monumental decisions. I like to highlight that, for those who immigrated to a new country as a child, their parents make the decision, and the children have no say in the matter. 

The pain of leaving was compounded by the fact that her grandmother passed away during the immigration process. She and her father were unable to return home for the funeral. This early experience taught her a harsh lesson about the sacrifices inherent in the immigrant journey. Leaving behind loved ones and traditions to pursue a better future in a new land.

The U.S. Chapter: Houston, Texas

The family’s journey first led them to Houston, Texas. Gicela remembers the intense heat, a stark contrast to the climate she was used to in Colombia. She recalls her first English phrases were “Excuse me” and “Where’s the washroom?” These were essential tools for navigating her new environment. One thing I’ve learned from doing this podcast is that knowing how to communicate when you need to use the bathroom is essential for new immigrants, whether children or adults. 

While in Houston, Gicela was impressed by the seemingly luxurious lifestyle. She admired the houses and the commonness of community pools. Despite these novelties, the family’s stay in the U.S. was uncertain. With a 10-year visa in hand, they explored their options. Gicela’s father, who had family in Canada as well, considered settling there. Ultimately, they decided to pursue immigration to Canada, a decision Gicela now reflects on with gratitude.

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Seeking Refuge in Canada: A Challenging Transition

The path to Canada was far from easy. The family entered the country as refugees, a process that involved significant challenges and sacrifices. Securing refugee status meant demonstrating a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country.

The 1990s and early 2000s in Colombia were marked by extreme violence, drug cartels, and political instability. Gicela’s mother had worked as a distributor for small stores. She feared the possibility of bombings due to cartel activity. Gicela’s father, a distributor for a snack food company, had been threatened by guerrillas who demanded he use his truck to transport weapons.

These threats underscored the dangers of remaining in Colombia. Her parents were driven by a desire to protect their children from the pervasive violence and instability that plagued their homeland. Their decision to seek refuge in Canada was a desperate attempt to secure a safer future for their family.

Life in a Halfway House: A Glimpse of Global Community

Upon arriving in Canada, Gicela Holguin and her family lived in a halfway house in Buffalo, New York, while awaiting their immigration appointment. This experience provided her with a unique glimpse into a diverse global community. In the halfway house, they lived alongside families from India, Argentina, and various other countries.

The halfway house was a structured environment. Families shared dorm rooms and communal meals. They also participated in cleaning duties and attended communal gatherings. The children attended school, and the residents celebrated their cultures through dance and music. For Gicela Holguin, this experience was eye-opening. She realized the world was much bigger than Colombia, the U.S., and Canada.

Despite the difficult circumstances, the people running the halfway house created a supportive and caring environment. They offered special attention to families who stayed longer. This included saving sticker books and offering first pick of donated clothing. These small acts of kindness made a lasting impression on Gicela. She recalls them fondly as moments of light during a confusing and uncertain time.

Deportation and Resilience: Overcoming Setbacks

After three months in the halfway house, the family moved to Toronto. They were trying to establish themselves in their new home. Just as they were starting to settle in, disaster struck. They were stopped by police, who informed them that they had a deportation notice.

Due to an address mix-up, they had never received the notice. This meant there was no time to pack or prepare. The experience was sudden and traumatic. Gicela remembers feeling like a criminal. The police, intimidating figures, took her parents away. The children were left to watch their car, filled with groceries, being impounded.

The family was taken to a holding cell. There, they were separated by gender and stripped of their jewelry, belts, and shoelaces. The stark white walls and sterile environment felt like a scene from a horror movie. Gicela Holguin was deeply concerned for her mother, who always wore her rings.

After a few days, they were informed they would be sent back to either the U.S. or Colombia. Her father wanted to return to Colombia, but her mother insisted on returning to the U.S. and reapplying for Canadian immigration. This decision proved pivotal. Gicela acknowledges that her life could have been very different if her mother had not stood her ground.

They returned to the halfway house in Buffalo. They had to navigate a complex legal process with a new lawyer. This time, their stay lasted six months. Despite the challenges, Gicela remembers a wealthy woman from the community who took her and her sister to the opera. These experiences exposed her to a world of art and culture. They provided a welcome escape from the difficulties they were facing.

“Dear Officer”: A Poem of Pain and Protest by Gicela Holguin

Gicela is also a writer and poet. She often uses her art to express her experiences and emotions. She shared a powerful poem titled “Dear Officer.”

Dear Officer, I hope you hear my cries and they never leave your mind. As you handcuffed my dad and took my mom away. As you made me hold my screaming six-month-old sister in my hands. I hope you never forget my face. I hope we keep you up at night and never let you rest. Do you even remember my name as you put me into the back of your car like a criminal? Do you know that car that you’re away, yes it’s old, and gray, some windows don’t even open properly, but did you know my dad had to clean many washrooms to pay for it? That it was his first car where all five of us could comfortably sit? You should have seen the day he got it. He had a smile from side to side, took us out for a ride. 

Enjoy the groceries in our trunk. Use them well. Feeding a family of five is not easy. But my dad did it with pride. So savor it. Those are not just dollars you’re taking, but hard-earned food destined for a table that never will get to.  

Dear Officer, do you feel powerful sending little immigrant girls to holding cells, separating them from their fathers and dismantling their life? I hope you know that my heart stops every time I hear police sirens. That to serve and protect means run and hide. That calling the police for any reason up to this day is my nightmare. Your due process stepped on my human rights. But most of all, it took my voice away. You muffled me, tied my hands with restraints that I cannot shake off even, years later. 

I’ve repressed anger for this long and still can’t seem to find all the words to describe the pain that you put me through. That very sunny day just past 11am I’ve spent years angry, wanting justice for my family. Went and studied political science to see if they would have the answers. Turns out you can’t change the system from the inside, so I’ll rally from the outside. My words cannot be silenced. No amount of time can heal your abuse of power.

We are not criminals, we are humans trying to find a place to rest our heads. We are not wild animals who walked onto your fertile grounds. Is there not enough land for all of us? But I guess I should be grateful I’m here now, put my head down, mind my business, and live my life, right? I should have to mite. I should have made my peace with that, horror day. 

The angry immigrants child. Wouldn’t that make a headline? I wish I could have stopped my tears and shown you the inside of my soul on fire, burning itself, and wishing you dead. But I can’t. I’m Candanian now, eh? And gratitude is all I should have for this country that didn’t want me back. The angry immigrant child. Wouldn’t that be fun if you saw it in the Toronto Star? See, I was gonna sit here and end the story with a bow, a call of forgiveness, and acceptance, but that wouldn’t be true. I will not be satisfied until my call is heard. And all those whose pain you cause rally together once and for all. 

Dear Officer, remember me. 

From Trauma to Triumph: Building a Business of Empowerment

Today, Gicela Holguin is back in Toronto. She is committed to sharing her message of resilience and empowerment. Her journey has shaped her into the holistically embodied business coach she is today.

Gicela’s business emerged from her own struggles. She realized that traditional business coaching often overlooks the unique challenges faced by immigrant women who have experienced trauma. She notes that many people who have faced and overcome serious hardship have developed a deep level of emotional intelligence.

Gicela Holguin journey is a testament to the power of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative potential of turning adversity into a source of strength. She says that for a long time she was building from trauma. But after meeting many people who had a lot of money and were still unhappy, Gicela realized the answer was to work through those traumas.

Listen to Gicela Holguin Story

With Love, Heidy

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