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ABC 7 Project Immigration team is taking a look at a family divided, in part, by United States' immigration policies. It's a story that plays out in the Washington area every day with legal and illegal immigrants from around the world.
Milagros Pineda did the unthinkable by leaving her five young children with her parents in El Salvador so she could work in the United States as a northern Virginia office cleaner. "You just have to look to the future and know that you can provide more, even though when you travel, your heart is broken into pieces."
She left El Salvador 15 years ago and hasn't seen her own children since then. In the tiny town of Comacaran, down a dirt road through the remote countryside, sits the home Milagros provided for her family. "What I realize now, how much she loves us," said son Luis Pineda.
For the first time, Milagros' children saw video of their mother. "I see that she's pretty," said son Cesar Pineda. Another son, Kennedis Pineda said, "I actually have her in my mind." The video hit home for all of her kids. "It makes me feel better, seeing her because we always need a mom," said Alexander Pineda.
Most memories of their mother have faded, except for one. "I do remember the day she left. She said, 'I'm just going to the town. I'll be back.' She never came back," said daughter Silvia Pineda.
The children grew up without their mother, but with the benefit of having her work in the United States and send money home. "Thanks to her, I'm still studying," said Luis. Silvia said, "I still feel very proud about how she is and I feel very proud to be her daughter."
Back in the United States, Milagros watched the video from El Salvador and called it a beautiful present. "This is the first time that I get to hear how they feel about it and I to know that my dream has accomplished a lot."
"I love her a lot and I'm always gonna love her and I hop that one day I can see her," said Silvia.
Milagros is in the county legally, under temporary protected status, but if she leaves the United States, she can't return.
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