Mindy Mercado's husband Luis is reunited with his family, after a month and a half apart.
Luis was hours away from being deported to
“It's been really hard, you know it's been a roller coaster where trials have been coming and we've been going up and down and it doesn't stop,” said Mindy Mercado.
The couple's four year old son Alex was molested and murdered by their 14 year old neighbor.
Mindy says Luis fell into a deep depression.
He'd been watching Alex the day the boy disappeared.
“He just always carried the guilt and the pain that he could have done something different for my son. Or that he could have saved him, he blamed himself,” Mindy said.
Luis's troubles with immigration started in 2007 when he was arrested for domestic violence.
Luis missed a court date early last year.
And on April 8th, immigration agents arrested him.
Mindy found an attorney.
“I told him I lost my son. I can't lose my husband. He told me you won't lose your husband,” Mindy said.
The attorney filed paperwork to stop the deportation and reopen Luis's case.
Mindy also contacted the office of Congressman David Valadao and they helped her navigate the process.
And Luis was released Monday.
Luis arrived home late Monday night the first thing he did was to visit his son's grave
“And he took his scissors and his little ax that he has and he took his rag that he has and his WD40 and just shined it up,” Mindy said.
Mindy and her family feel that little Alex is also helping them through this - their guardian angle working to keep the family together.