Author Examines Family Migration and Separation at the Border

Gabrielle Oliveira's new book documents the experiences of 16 families and 30 children who crossed the U.S. border from 2018 to 2021.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:08pm

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A somber, cinematic painting of a young child sitting alone on a bench in a dimly lit bus station, the warm light and deep shadows conveying a sense of isolation and melancholy.A poignant visual metaphor for the heartbreak and uncertainty faced by migrant children separated from their families at the border.Harlingen Today

In the latest episode of Border Report Live, author Gabrielle Oliveira discussed her new book 'Now We Are Here — Family Migration, Children's Education, and Dreams for a Better Life,' which chronicles the experiences of 16 families and 30 children from Latin America who crossed the U.S. border between 2018 and 2021. Oliveira spoke with South Texas correspondent Sandra Sanchez about how she located and followed these families, many of whom were separated for months due to U.S. immigration policies like the Migrant Protection Protocols and the zero tolerance family separation policy.

Why it matters

Oliveira's book sheds light on the human impact of controversial immigration policies implemented during the Trump administration, providing a firsthand account of the trauma and hardship experienced by migrant families and children who undertook dangerous journeys north in search of a better life.

The details

The families Oliveira followed came from Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, with children ranging in age from 4 months to 18 years old. Many parents expressed guilt over subjecting their children to these arduous journeys, and some waited for months south of the border under the Migrant Protection Protocols policy before crossing. Once in the U.S., some children were separated from their parents for weeks under the zero tolerance family separation policy, with one father, Julio from Guatemala, spending 72 days apart from his 5-year-old daughter Lux.

  • Oliveira followed the 16 families and 30 children from 2018 through 2021.
  • The Migrant Protection Protocols policy was implemented by President Donald Trump during his first term.
  • The zero tolerance family separation policy was also implemented during this time period.

The players

Gabrielle Oliveira

The author of the new book 'Now We Are Here — Family Migration, Children's Education, and Dreams for a Better Life,' which documents the experiences of migrant families and children who crossed the U.S. border.

Sandra Sanchez

The South Texas correspondent for Border Report who interviewed Oliveira about her book.

Julio

A father from Guatemala who was separated from his 5-year-old daughter Lux for 72 days after crossing the border.

Lux

Julio's 5-year-old daughter who was sent to a New York shelter and not allowed to sleep with stuffed animals or toys while separated from her father.

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What they’re saying

“I wonder if anyone will care.”

— Julio, Father from Guatemala

The takeaway

Oliveira's book provides a powerful and intimate look at the human toll of the Trump administration's immigration policies, underscoring the trauma and hardship experienced by migrant families and children who risked everything to seek a better life in the United States.