Press. voanews.com
There were balloons, flowers and tears of happiness. Mexican parents
were reunited Wednesday with sons and daughters they hadn't seen in decades
because their children have been living in the United States. The parents came through a family-reunification program organized by the
Mexican state of Morelos that allows Mexican families to stay together for
about three weeks. The U.S. granted the visitors tourist visas.
“I am so happy,” said Candido
Macoto, a worker at a flower shop in Brooklyn who had not seen his mother,
Magdalena Garcia, in 21 years. Macoto welcomed her with tears in his eyes at a
boat docked at the Chelsea Piers. He brought his wife, son, daughter and
grandson with him.
Twenty-six other Mexican families were reunited as part of the program,
called “Corazon de plata” (“Silver heart”). Other Mexican states, such as
Puebla, carry out similar programs. Among the requirements: Mexican parents
need to be 60 or older, never have been in the U.S. before and have had a son
or daughter submit an application. The families paid for the flights and boat
ride Wednesday.
“It's been a long time,” said Garcia, 67, while holding a bouquet of red
roses her family had brought her. Most of the sons and daughters who waited at
the boat to meet with their parents left Mexico years ago and are not legal
U.S. residents. “I am thankful to God
for making this possible,” she said. Father and daughter had not seen each
other in 24 years.
The Mexican immigrants who live in New York applied to the program
through a local group called Pulso New York, which became a link between the
families and Morelos. The parents flew together from Mexico City and will
return to their home country on July 24. There is no limit in the number of
participants of the program.