Three Minnesota children have set out on a long journey to
the White House in hopes of being reunited with their mother. The Zamudio children—aged 9, 11, and 12—recently
lost their mother after she was sent back to Mexico because her work visa had
expired.
After Mario Guadalupe Zamudio was first deported, her
U.S.-born children returned with her to Mexico, but they could not keep up in school
because their lessons were not conducted in English. So they moved back to the
States six months ago and have been living with an aunt since then.
The arrangement is intolerable to all three children, and
they are turning to the President and First Lady for help. Yesterday night,
they packed up their aunt’s van and drove through the night to Washington D.C.,
where they plan to hold posters and deliver letters, asking the Obamas to let
their mother back into the U.S. Lalo, the oldest, said, "We want to ask
Obama to help us bring our mom back ‘cause we need her. We are just kids.”
It’s impossible to estimate the exact number of U.S.-born
children who lose a parent to deportation each year, but researchers say it is
at least in the high thousands. In many
cases, the loss of a breadwinner means that the remaining single parent is
forced to seek government assistance to put food on the table.
Though immigration officials try to find care for children
who are left without a guardian, the law mandates that breaking up families is
not a factor in the decision to deport immigrants.
Photo: kare11.com
