Mexican mom tells her 4-year-old dad is 'staying with grandma' — the truth she can’t explain has Americans in tears
A Mexican father was deported from the United States, leaving his wife to explain his sudden absence to their 4-year-old daughter. On November 17, 2025, the child’s mother shared a video documenting the difficult conversation during a car ride, offering a rare look into how families cope with sudden separation caused by immigration enforcement. Posted by TikTok user @trompiz87alejo, the clip shows the mother gently telling her daughter that her dad is 'staying with grandma,' a simplified version of a reality the child is too young to understand. The emotional honesty of the moment left many Americans watching in tears, highlighting the impact of family separation.
@trompiz87alejo She’s only four, her biggest worry should be what flavor of juice she wants for lunch. She loves her daddy so much. @G@Governor Jared Poliswhy are we not protecting our immigrants. El Paso County court has a rat. That is informing immigration of people going to court trying to do the right thing just for ice to follow them out. These ice agents destroyed my vehicle they made threats against my child.. #i#icei#immigrantsmakeamericagreati#immigrantparentsb#babiesoftiktokt#thisisnotamerica ♬ original sound - trompiz87alejo
The video is filmed while the mother is driving, with her daughter sitting in the backseat. She begins calmly, saying, “Daddy is going to go visit abuelita (grandmother).” The little girl responds with a quiet, unsure “okay.” The mother continues, choosing her words carefully, and adds, “Daddy has to go away for a little while,” referring to his removal from the country. As she speaks, she puts on her sunglasses to hide her tears. She explains that everyone will be together for Christmas, except for her father, and that they need to take his belongings out of the house.
When the child gently asks “why,” the mother answers, “cause daddy is not going to live there anymore. Daddy has to go stay with abuelita for a while.” Her voice starts to break as the weight of the moment settles in. The girl softly says “no,” and the mother tries again to comfort her. She reassures her that it is only for a little while, that she will see him again, but then adds a line that many viewers found especially painful, “He won’t be here for Christmas though, okay.” She asks her daughter if she is okay, and the sadness in her tone is clear.
While the mother never explains the full reason to her child, viewers understand that the father was deported following a court appearance tied to immigration rules. She later shared that her daughter should be worrying about small childhood choices, not the sudden loss of her father. Moments like this happen more often than many realize, and they affect families across the country each year. Data from USA Facts shows that about 1.1 million people were deported from the United States in 2023, and by November 2024, around 678,000 people had already gone through the same process. Behind each number is a family facing separation, much like the one shown in the video.
Many internet users also shared warm messages in the comment section, expressing understanding of the mother’s pain and offering words of comfort and support. @jada.a4 wrote, "I can’t even imagine the all-consuming feeling of fear and defeat. I’m so sorry you’re experiencing this. This is so heartbreaking." @kiki_n999 commented, "I’m sorry your baby and you have to go through this; stay strong. Prayers for your family." @curlsnerdy expressed, "The way that you keep your voice soft to try to keep her calm shows how strong you are as a mother and as a person." While @eslv.kayla exclaimed, "Poor baby, I’m sorry for you all. Sending hugs."
For more immigration-related family content, follow @trompiz87alejo on her TikTok account.