Illegal

Laz Ayala escaped war-torn El Salvador as a 14-year-old in 1981. He smuggled over the Mexican border into the United States curled up in the trunk of an old Cadillac. A new life waited in San Bernardino, California, with his sister, father and brother. Laz had to succeed in school while learning English, with the threat of deportation looming. This is a story about immigration and the American dream.

Laz Ayala escaped war-torn El Salvador as a 14-year-old in 1981. He smuggled over the Mexican border into the United States curled up in the trunk of an old Cadillac. A new life waited in San Bernardino, California, with his Sister, father and brother. Laz had to succeed in school while learning English, with the threat of deportation looming. This is a story about immigration and the American dream. Today Laz is a successful real estate entrepreneur, developer, and philanthropist. From a Dreamer to living his dream, Laz Ayala tells the story about how he came to America, and his mission to humanize immigrants and reform immigration policy.

Laz Ayala is a principal at KDA Homes, a real estate development and construction company based in Ashland, Oregon. He has been a real estate entrepreneur for more than 30 years. He is an active civic leader and has served on various boards of non-profit organizations, including Southern Oregon University Foundation as a trustee. In 2013 he established the Lazaro Ayala Opportunity Scholarship Fund at Southern Oregon University to assist DACA/Dreamer students. He is a member of the Medford Chamber of Commerce and the Medford Rogue Rotary Club. "Illegal," a feature-length documentary film based on his journey, had its world premiere at the Winter Film Awards 9th Annual International Film Festival in New York City in February of 2020.