Divided by Law
Reunited
After 14 years and 99 days apart, our family was finally reunited.
Photo by Manuel Ruiz
My Family’s Story
In 2009, my mother, Gloria, applied for a green card. She was married to my father, a U.S. citizen, had four children born in Arizona, and followed the legal process. However, our family circumstances didn’t matter. Because of a 1996 immigration law, she was torn away from us and barred from returning to the United States for ten years.
At the time, I was fifteen. My sister Naomi was nine, and Bobby, our little brother, was four. Our mom had been the family’s main breadwinner, so Jim, our oldest brother, enlisted in the U.S. Marines to help support us financially. Two years later, in 2011, our father suffered a devastating stroke. As the second oldest, I became his caregiver while also stepping into the role of parent for Naomi and Bobby.
So much changed in the years that followed. Jim was honorably discharged from the military to care for our father. Naomi took charge of the household and went on to graduate from the University of Arizona. Bobby grew up largely without our mom and is now a third-year college student. Their sacrifices made it possible for me to pursue higher education. In 2018, our dad passed away after a second stroke. And in January 2024, after 14 years and 99 days, our mom finally returned home to the United States.
The photos below tell our family’s story of separation and reunification:
Our family visits Mom in Mexico after she was barred from returning to the United States.
After becoming divided by law, our family begins to adapt to our new normal.
Jim enlisted in the Marines to support us after Mom was gone.
I became a surrogate parent to Bobby and Naomi.
Bobby pledges allegiance to the flag.
We tried to spend as much time as possible with Mom in Mexico.
Father suffered a devastating stroke.
Jim came home from the Marines to help care for Dad.
Naomi became in charge of the household.
Naomi became a second mom to Bobby.
I pursued higher education to advocate for our family and others.
Dad died from a second stroke in 2018.
Naomi graduated from the University of Arizona.
Mom and I speak to reporters after she returns home.
Bobby and Naomi greet Mom at the border.
Jim and Mom embrace.
The photographs above come from a range of documentaries and news coverage. Many are part of “Divided by Law,” an award-winning series produced by Arizona Public Media and the Arizona Daily Star. Reporters Perla Trevizo and Fernanda Echavarri, along with photographer Mike Christy, spent four months following my family to capture the challenges we faced after my mother was barred from the United States. Another set of photos was taken by Maine photographer Heather Perry while covering our story for Bowdoin Magazine and Yankee Magazine. The final three images were by Tucson-based photographer Manuel Ruiz, who documented our family’s reunion.
While our experience is deeply personal, it is far from unique. U.S. immigration law has separated countless families like mine. FWD.us, a bipartisan organization, estimates that “[a]t least 5.1 million U.S. citizen children live with at least one undocumented household member.” Research shows that children in mixed-status families often endure toxic stress, anxiety, depression, and economic hardship. Unless we move beyond politics and commit to protecting immigrant families, American children, our country’s future, will continue to pay the price.
Our family’s reunion was featured on MSNBC. Watch the coverage here:
Please visit the following links to learn more about my family’s story:
2020
“Tucson’s de la Rosa Family is focus of free movie screening,” Arizona Daily Star, January 11, 2020.
2018
“The 30 Days,” NPR Latino USA, October 12, 2018.
“30 Days to be a family,” Arizona Daily Star, October 12, 2018.
“Neto’s Tucson: An urgent plea that shouldn’t have been needed,” Arizona Daily Star, August 26, 2018.
“US Government Has Changed of Heart, Allows Mexican Woman to Bid Farewell to Dying Husband,” NPR Latino USA, August 24, 2018.
“In about-face, US lets Mexican woman visit dying husband in Tucson,” Arizona Daily Star, August 25, 2018.
“Feds allow Mexican woman to visit dying husband in Tucson,” Arizona Daily Star, August 24, 2018.
“Congressman urges feds to let Mexican woman visit dying husband in Tucson,” Arizona Daily Star, August 24, 2018.
“Feds reject Mexican woman’s bid to visit her dying husband in Tucson,” Arizona Daily Star, August 22, 2018.
“Woman’s Request to Say Goodbye to Dying Husband Is Denied by Immigration Officials,” NPR Latino USA, August 22, 2018.
“Tucson siblings – separated from Mom by the border for years – find ways to thrive,” Arizona Daily Star, June 4, 2018.
2017
“American Siblings in a Family Divided by Law,” NPR Latino USA, May 26, 2017.
2016
“The Kids Are Not Alright,” NPR Latino USA, January 15, 2016.
2015
“Divided by Law,” Arizona Daily Star and Arizona Public Media, September 28, 2015.