“But I'm still breastfeeding him, you know.”
It doesn't matter, the guard said.
“No, but I'm breastfeeding.”
We still have to take them, the guard said.
trib.it/k9
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di365WxUYAAnyXI.jpg)
It starts in Guatemala. trib.it/k9
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di37di9U0AA7xwJ.jpg)
“I’m going to go get your husband and your kids.” trib.it/k9
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di3706pVsAA4r1g.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di38NCzUUAAc1kS.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di38hD7U0AEBu7z.jpg)
The 5-year-old boy’s joy seemed to be gone on the phone, Hilda said. “It breaks my heart to talk to him.”
Here's how Hilda describes her grandchildren.
trib.it/k9
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di39CofVAAA_ek2.jpg)
“They keep on saying that they want to leave that place,” Sandy told her mother. trib.it/k9
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di3-NosU0AAG263.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di3-NosUwAEn3QZ.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di3-rkZUcAE0p3V.jpg)
It was a rare success. trib.it/k9
Now, she had a chance to stay.
“She must have had some fire inside her to stand up for herself. That’s the only way she was able to do it.” trib.it/k9
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di3_ZvWUcAAjSzD.jpg)
But she was left at the bus station, with four kids, including a 6-month-old baby, for eight hours. trib.it/k9
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di3_wOaU0AEUE2a.jpg)
She was finally back with her kids after they were separated.
But her difficulties aren't over yet.
trib.it/k9
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4AOsEU0AAJ8dr.jpg)
Sandy can never get permanent residency status. She cannot include her four children in her asylum case; all of them must apply for asylum separately. trib.it/k9
If the ankle monitor battery goes dead, or she can’t make it to a check-in, she could be deported. trib.it/k9
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4Av4sVsAADMMa.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4BJc4UUAEWUzn.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4BJc6U0AAbReZ.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Di4BJc9VsAATsla.jpg)