Mother of Five Reunited With Children

Travel warning for American nationals traveling on temporary visas

A Texas mother of five was reunited with her children after being kept out of the country for months.

Julia Santos had been living in the United States for the past 17 years under a temporary protected-status visa known as TPS.

Last year, the Texas native had to travel to Central American to take care of her mother, who suffered a heart attack.

Julie however failed to follow proper protected-status procedure and her visa expired.

This left Santos separated from her five children who are all United States citizens and minors at the time.

"I was like 'what do I need to do have my mom over here?,'" said Julia's eldest daughter Vilma Villa Toro. "I was trying to play that role but I'm not I'm just a big sister, that's all."

With the help of Isenberg Center for Immigration Empowerment Julia was able to come back home after 10 long months.

"She has been granted a two-year parole which is unusual and it's on humanitarian grounds," said Ralph Isenberg.

Isenberg was able to travel to El Salvador and help Julia straighten out her paperwork.

"It was such a challenge to get everything in order," said Isenberg. "I had nothing but setbacks the whole time."

It took ICIE nine months of work to get Customs and Border Protection and United States Citizens and Immigration Services to put a plan in place to get Julia back together with her family.

It's the only gift Julia's five children say they have wished for this last year.

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