The immigration official asks Mama?

From the text:

She reached the desk and handed over the documents.

The immigration official seemed angry for no reason. “Where are you coming from?”

She looked at Mama who was behind her.

“We are from Aguascalientes,” said Mama, stepping forward.

“And what is your purpose for entering the United States?”

Esperanza was afraid to speak. What if she said the wrong thing?

“To work,” said Mama, handing him her documents as well.

“What work?” demanded the man.

Mama’s demeanor changed. She stood up straight and tall and deliberately blotted her face with a handkerchief. She looked directly into the official’s eyes and spoke calmly as if she were giving simple directions to a servant. “I am sure you can see that everything is in order. The name of the employer is written there. People are expecting us.”