After Aliana was cruelly separated from her father at the border, our partners Miles4Migrants and Immigrant Families Together jumped in to post her father’s bond and fly him to his daughter. She spent 181 days in detention, but we were finally able to reunite them.

We are happy to report that 4-year-old Aliana* has been reunited with her father, Esvin, after 181 days apart.

Aliana* was cruelly separated from her father at the border. In early March, our partners at Immigrant Families Together posted her dad’s $15,000 bond. Miles4Migrants flew him to Alaina so he could apply for her release.

Aliana’s father Esvin did everything the government asked: submitted forms, sent fingerprints, scheduled a home inspection. And yet, the government kept asking for more. They need more time to review. More fingerprints. Read more from the Los Angeles Times.

The longer they stalled, the longer 4-year-old Aliana spent without her family. And each day in detention robbed her of a day of healthy development.

We told the government that we were watching. We sent the latest ruling that they must expedite the release of every child. 

We were prepared to keep fighting. In addition to signatures and donations from our community, two concerned attorneys reached out to offer their support in court if we needed it. We’re relieved we didn’t. And we’re heartened to know you’re out there.

As always, we will continue to check in with Esvin to hear how Aliana is doing. We are hopeful she finds peace at home.

* We use pseudonyms and likenesses of similar children, not portraits. We avidly protect the identities of the children and families we assist.