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VIDEO: Immigrant Father and Son Reunited After Being Separated for Two Months by DHS

July 16, 2018

The heart-warming moment that a father and his six-year-old son were reunited after being separated by ICE forces was captured on camera, and it is making our hearts feel full and our eyes full of tears– and reminding us that the scars of this separation do not end with the reunification.

Tonight, Guatemalan asylum seeker Hermelindo Che Coc was reunited w/ his 6-yr-old son, Jefferson at LAX. The two were separated at the border, didn’t see each other nearly 2 months. The boy had a vacant look in his eyes. Also a cough, bruise on his eye & rashes all over his body. pic.twitter.com/322p9WiIBr

— Esmeralda Bermudez (@BermudezWrites) July 15, 2018

After the countless news stories of families being torn apart by Donald Trump’s new immigration policies, and the heart-breaking pictures and videos of the children who have been detained because of this, one story of a Guatemalan asylum seeker being reunited with his son, has given hope that this soul destroying policy will soon come to an end.

Hermelindo Che Coc arrived at LAX with a suitcase full of new clothes and food for his son, as he waited for the moment he has been hoping for since his son got taken away from him two months ago. The two were separated as they tried to get across the US border, but as this horrifying policy slowly comes to an end, Hermelindo was finally reunited with his six-year-old son, Jefferson.

We spent the evening w/ Hermelindo as he prepared to see his son for the 1st time since they were separated at the border. The father was excited. He mopped the floors, cooked him chicken soup & bought him new clothes with money given to him by his father in law. pic.twitter.com/WdNf3cHOGW

— Esmeralda Bermudez (@BermudezWrites) July 15, 2018

The video of the two being reunited was posted to Twitter by @LATbermudez, who appears to be one of Hermelindo’s friends. Esmeralda posted to Twitter a series of tweets, which showed the lead up to this moment, and finally the video of when the moment finally arrived. One of the tweets shows a picture of a few phrases Che Coc has been learning in English. The first reads “I want my child.”

In a drawer alongside Jefferson’s new clothes, Hermelindo keeps a bible, his immigration documents and this: A few phrases he’s trying to learn in English. # 1 on his list: Yo quiero mi niño. I want my child. pic.twitter.com/VgJ45PviAo

— Esmeralda Bermudez (@BermudezWrites) July 15, 2018

The thread shows the emotions of Hermelindo and what goes through a father’s mind. A video that Berumudez posted, was one of Che Coc sat in a lounge which was set up by the airline. Even though he is surround by luxury, he is shown with his head in his hands, crying, praying and thinking of only his son.

Hermelindo waits at a lounge set up by the airline. Surrounded by first class luxury & fancy coffee table books all the father can think of is his son. He cried & prays & sets a timer to track the minutes. He sees a photo of an aircraft & asks if that’s how big his son’s plane is pic.twitter.com/CfitwWajsh

— Esmeralda Bermudez (@BermudezWrites) July 15, 2018

Is that how big my son’s plane is? Yes. He laughs. He can’t believe his tiny 6-year-boy is inside such a huge plane. pic.twitter.com/Q2stZS810p

— Esmeralda Bermudez (@BermudezWrites) July 15, 2018

The pictures that followed after were heart breaking, as Jefferson didn’t greet his father with a hug, but only a vacant stare.

Hermelindo waits down a long corridor to finally reunite with his 6-year-old soon, Jefferson. “He’s the love of my life, my hero,” he said. pic.twitter.com/ZJMtvk7V1z

— Esmeralda Bermudez (@BermudezWrites) July 15, 2018

The moment Hermelindo & his son saw each other. Jefferson stopped down a corridor, several feet from his father. He stared at the floor. When he looked up, his eyes were vacant. He didn’t reach for Che Coc, didn’t lift his arms to hug him. “Papa,” Hermelindo cried. “Papa.” pic.twitter.com/EtcCl4Kq29

— Esmeralda Bermudez (@BermudezWrites) July 15, 2018

Separating a child from their parents at a very young age can cause serious lifelong effects, that go beyond anxiety and trauma. There can be issues with health, speech defects, aggressiveness, and even cognitive, behavioural and psychological dysfunction. Hermelindo’s story is one of many, and you can read more about his story here.

If you would like to help make a difference and have your say, you can donate and/or sign petitions, and help towards putting an end to this inhumane policy.

Here are a few that we recommend: Action Network, The ACLU, or RAICES.

For more stories, follow us on Twitter at @WhatsTrending.