i'm sad and i feel helpless. >> reporter: although the kids will live with their father in arizona, angel knows life won't be the same. >> our mother will always be there for you. that's what we need, we need our mother. >> reporter: garcia insists she will miss key moments in her kids' lives including her 15th birthday celebration. >> translator: we will have to wait a little longer for her sweet 15. we just can do it. >> it happened in the face, and i'm pretty proud of that because we're speaking up for the whole community, everyone, all the immigrants. >> reporter: being separated, it's the reality for many families and a growing debate about president trump's immigration policies. paolo sandoval, cnn, nogales, mexico. >> cnn has reached out to immigration and customs officials, by the way. i want to review the response they issued to us.