Maria arrived to the United States when she was only 2 years old. She has lived in White Plains, New York for most of her life, and while she considers herself to be an American, she is still an undocumented immigrant under U.S. law.

Maria works as a tattoo artist at La Tinta de la Santa Muerte, a tattoo and piercing shop that she runs with her family.

Maria is currently looking into applying for deferred action .