Florinda Bol holds a picture of her son Byron, who is in a shelter in Baytown, a thousand miles from their Guatemalan village.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada
Last May, David Xol, a farmworker from the town of San Miguel Limón in the highlands of Guatemala, made his way with his 7-year-old son Byron across Mexico to the Texas border during the height of the Trump Administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward undocumented immigrants. They were apprehended by Border Patrol officers and later that month, David Xol was deported back to Guatemala. His son was sent to a shelter in Baytown, where he’s been ever since.
Florinda Bol holds a picture of her husband, David, and her son Byron.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada Carlos
David Xol, his wife Florinda Bol and their two other sons at their home in San Miguel Limón.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada
This is the home of the Xol Bol family in San Miguel Limón.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada Carlos
Florinda prepares a meal as her young son looks on.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada Carlos
Byron’s school in San Miguel Limón.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada
Byron’s classroom.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada
Carlos Pop, Byron’s first-grade teacher in San Miguel Limón, shows his class roster. “In my class, I have 19 students,” said Pop. “Today only 18 were present. There is one that is in the U.S., they say.” (Carlos Sebastián/Nómada)
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada Carlos
Byron’s name on the attendance sheet.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada Carlos
Byron is in this BCFS shelter in Baytown, near Houston.
MICHAEL STRAVATO
The family talks to Byron on the phone. They receive weekly calls from their son.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada Carlos
Byron’s brother talks to him on the phone.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada Carlos
“My son has started to hate me,” Xol said. “He said, ‘Why did you leave me? Am I not your son?’ I told him not to say that.”
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada Carlos
The Xol Bol home at night.
Carlos Sebastián/Nómada Carlos
