A 21-year-old literature major at Harvard University who is undocumented, having overstayed a tourist visa from Ecuador as a child. She is fiercely intelligent, eager to be a writer, and keenly observant of the social dynamics around her. Under immense pressure to succeed for her grandparents' sake, she uses literature and an obsession with self-presentation to manage her precarious legal and social standing.

Catalina's undocumented grandfather, a former traveling salesman in Ecuador who now works in manual labor and construction in New York. He is aging out of his physically demanding job and harbors deep frustration over missing the 1986 amnesty cutoff. He relies on a strict, sometimes volatile patriarchal demeanor to mask his feelings of impotence at being unable to fully protect or legally provide for his family.

Catalina's undocumented grandmother, a former top student at a Catholic girls' school in Ecuador who now works as a homemaker in Queens. Orphaned at a young age, she possesses a spectacular sensitivity and a knack for creating imaginative worlds. She privately mourns the loss of her own ambitions and independence, focusing her energy entirely on protecting and supporting Catalina.

An anthropology major at Harvard and a legacy student from a wealthy, influential family. He researches ancient Incan khipus for his senior thesis and spends his summers in Colombia. Cultured and seemingly progressive, his fascination with Latin America often treats the culture as an ethnographic subject rather than a lived reality. This approach exposes a blind spot toward working-class and immigrant struggles.

A pre-med student at Harvard from Texas, who is Puerto Rican and a United States citizen. Beautiful and socially independent, she bonded with Catalina over their shared experiences of losing their mothers at a young age. She acts as a grounding, protective force for Catalina, ensuring she stays focused on her studies despite mounting personal pressures.

A famous British film director known for his acclaimed documentaries focusing on Latin America. Wealthy, influential, and accustomed to controlling narratives, he views the world through a cinematic lens. He maintains extensive connections but occasionally faces accusations of romanticizing the geopolitical realities of his subjects.

A Black and Jewish student at Harvard who becomes one of Catalina's most trusted friends. Politically aware and socially adept, he nominates Catalina for an exclusive arts society. He provides Catalina with a safe space to be vulnerable, serving as the first person at Harvard to whom she confides her undocumented status.

A white anthropology professor at Harvard and a world-renowned expert on khipus. She conducts fieldwork in the high Andes and leads a major upcoming museum exhibition, representing the academic establishment's control over indigenous history.

The literary editor at the magazine where Catalina completes her unpaid summer internship. Hailing from rural Wisconsin, he had to learn the unwritten rules of the New York intellectual class himself. He recognizes Catalina's intelligence but also notices her subtle gaps in elite social conditioning, taking on a mildly mentoring role.

Harvard's first Latina tenured professor, known for her tailored Italian leather pants and nose piercing. Catalina hopes to find a mentor in her, but discovers that aside from their shared heritage, they have little in common.

The only other Hispanic intern at the literary magazine where Catalina works. He serves as Catalina's unsatisfying summer fling, representing a brief attempt by her to experience romance before returning to school.

A pro bono immigration lawyer who evaluates Fransisco's legal situation. He provides blunt but necessary advice about the difficult realities of the immigration court system.

Catalina's uncle in Ecuador. He raised her from infancy until she was five years old, before she was sent to the United States. His distant presence represents Catalina's severed ties to her home country.

A travel agent with an alleged FBI file who functions as a community broker between immigrants and the police. He assists immigrants with specialized services, including preparing for end-of-life repatriation.

A Brazilian conservator at the Peabody Museum who prepares artifacts, including ancient khipus, for upcoming exhibitions. She manages overflow items in the museum's storage vault.

A wealthy European woman with an untraceable accent who frequents the exclusive Signet society lunches. She represents the wealthy benefactors of Harvard who view marginalized students through an exoticizing lens.