Gallery: This Guatemalan family hasn't seen their 8-year-old in months

By John Jordan, Carlos Sebastián and Michael Stravato, The Texas Tribune
Aug. 21, 2018

“Gallery: This Guatemalan family hasn’t seen their 8-year-old in months” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Last May, David Xol, a farmworker from the town of San Miguel Limón in the highlands of Guatemala, made his way with his 7-year-old son Byron across Mexico to the Texas border during the height of the Trump Administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward undocumented immigrants. They were apprehended by Border Patrol officers and later that month, David Xol was deported back to Guatemala. His son was sent to a shelter in Baytown, where he’s been ever since.

Byron turned 8 in June. Read the full story here.

Florinda Bol holds a picture of her husband, David, and her son Byron.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

David Xol, his wife Florinda Bol and their two other sons at their home in San Miguel Limón.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

This is the home of the Xol Bol family in San Miguel Limón.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

Florinda prepares a meal as her young son looks on.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

Byron's school in San Miguel Limón. — Byron’s school in San Miguel Limón.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

Byron's classroom. — Byron’s classroom.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

Carlos Pop, Byron’s first-grade teacher in San Miguel Limón, shows his class roster. “In my class, I have 19 students,” said Pop. “Today only 18 were present. There is one that is in the U.S., they say.”
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

Byron's name on the attendance sheet. — Byron’s name on the attendance sheet.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

Byron is in this BCFS shelter in Baytown, near Houston.
Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune

The family talks to Byron on the phone. They receive weekly calls from their son.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

Byron's brother talks to him on the phone. — Byron’s brother talks to him on the phone.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

“My son has started to hate me,” Xol said. “He said, ‘Why did you leave me? Am I not your son?’ I told him not to say that.”
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

The Xol Bol home at night.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Gallery: This Guatemalan family hasn’t seen their 8-year-old in months

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