A group of 18 elderly inhabitants from the municipality of Chapala arrived in Los Angeles, California on February 18 for an emotional reunion with sons and daughters whom they had not seen or embraced for more than 20 years.
The senior travelers were the first Chapala beneficiaries of the Families Without Borders program coordinated by Mexican and U.S. government agencies to allow migrants to reunite with their parents.
To that end, 50 visas granted to Jalisco were distributed in five municipalities, including Chapala where 46 families completed the application process and 36 of them were approved.
Beginning in March 2023, the municipal government offered support to people over 60 years of age seeking to obtain their passports and visas, and follow up on arranging the payments and the logistics of booking reservations, and lining up transportation and flights. The 30-day visitor visas are valid for ten years.
Chapala Mayor Alejandro Aguirre, General Secretary Lilia Alvarado and Human Rights Director Ramiro Rentería accompanied the 18 families at the heart-warming encounter held at the Jalisco office in Los Angeles.
On February 28, 18 more local elders will receive their visas from Governor Enrique Alfaro, and begin their journey to the United States the following day as scheduled by authorities.