Four young brothers from northeastern Nebraska were accompanied by a representative of the Omaha-based Mexican Consulate to be reunited with their mother south of the border.
Thursday's cross-country journey was familiar to the consulate's Christian Espinosa. It was his third trip this year to take children from Nebraska or Iowa to deported parents.
A total of eight youths, some siblings, have been flown to their parents since January, said Espinosa's boss, Consul Jorge Espejel.
Five were born in the United States and three in Mexico. All had spent years living in the Midlands.
Espejel expects two more youths to be transported to join a parent in Mexico in the next week or so.
A count from other foreign consulates was not available.
Espejel said juveniles come to his staff's attention after one parent or both parents are detained or deported, and the state health and human services agency in Iowa or Nebraska steps in.
Under a formal agreement, the agencies contact the consulate in matters dealing with families with Mexican ties. Each week, the consulate sees two or three new cases involving young state wards in Nebraska and Iowa, said Edgar Rebollar of the consulate.
Contact the writer:
444-1224, cindy.gonzalez@owh.com
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