Migrant parents at Annunciation House recount moment their children were taken away

A group of undocumented parents receiving shelter at the Annunciation House in El Paso is asking for help locating their children after they were separated at the border.

Sunday, CBP released 32 undocumented parents into the custody of the Annunciation House. Their charges were terminated and the migrants are free to leave to other parts of the US pending a court hearing. All parents have ankle bracelets with GPS monitors, Annunciation House said.

Juan, a father separated from his 10 year-old daughter, told the media he was unaware of the policy separating children from their parents at the border. “I told them they could not take my daughter away, because if we come over here to the US, it is to protect our children,” Juan said. The man does not know where his daughter is. He said he has called a 1-800 number provided by immigration authorities and has been unable to get answers. “Since they took her away from me, I haven’t heard from my daughter,” he said.

Another father said he was “so damaged by what has happened to me that it is hard for me to say anything.” That same father said he tried to enter through a port of entry to ask for asylum. He was rejected at the port of entry and decided to enter the country illegally. The father was separated from his 17-year-old child.

A mother identified as Miriam from Guatemala said she was separated from her 5-year-old son overnight. She said she was stunned when told by immigration agents her son was going to be sent to another shelter. The child was screaming the moment he was taken away on the 16th.

When the mother asked where the child was going to be taken to, the mother was not given a clear answer. When she asked when she would get her son back, she was told that when they were sent back to their home country. The mother said she was told, “whether you sign your deportation order or not, your child will still be taken away from you. You will get him back when you are sent home.”

The mother said her child is somewhere in New York. She spoke with a social worker where her child is being taken care of. When she asked to speak with her son, she was told her son was angry at her because he believes she abandoned him.” “I never though they would take my child away from me,” the mother said.

When asked what she has to say to immigration authorities, the mother said, “A child is always better off with his mother and it is very sad they are being taken away from us. They don’t know about the pain of bringing a child into this world.”

When asked if she regretted coming to the US, Miriam answered, “Yes. If I had known this was happening, I would never have come here.”

A third father, who said he was Honduras, told reporters he has been able to speak with his daughter, who is being held in a shelter near Chicago. He said his daughter misses him, but has been very strong throughout the ordeal.

A second mother, also from Honduras, told reporters she has not been able to speak with her son after they were separated recently. She said she came to the US looking for a job and better opportunities for her family. The mother said she told the immigration agents to instead deport her on the spot with her child, but the immigration agent told her she had broken the law and was going to be taken into custody.