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Families Divided

Gallery: This Guatemalan family hasn't seen their 8-year-old in months

A collection of photos by Carlos Sebastián for Nómada and Michael Stravato for the Tribune shows David Xol and Florinda Bol in Guatemala and the Texas facility where their son has been held since late May.

By John Jordan, Carlos Sebastián and Michael Stravato
Florinda Bol holds a picture of her son Byron. Byron is in a shelter in Baytown, a thousand miles away, where he’s been for months.

Families Divided

The Trump administration's “zero tolerance” immigration policy, which led to the separation of children from adults who crossed the border illegally, has fueled a national outcry. Sign up for our ongoing coverage. Send story ideas to tips@texastribune.org.

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Florinda Bol holds a picture of her husband, David, and her son Byron. Byron is in a shelter in Baytown, a thousand miles away, where he’s been for months.
David Xol, his wife Florinda Bol and two of their sons at their home in San Miguel Limón. Xol made his way across Mexico with his third son, 7-year-old Byron. Xol was deported back to Guatemala; Byron remains in a shelter in Baytown.
The Xol and Bol home in San Miguel Limón, in the Guatemalan state of Alta Verapaz, where David Xol works on a plantation cutting African palm from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. six days a week.
Byron’s mother, Florinda Bol, cooks at her home in San Miguel Limón, where she lives with her husband David and two of her three sons. Her third, Byron, is in a shelter in Baytown, a thousand miles away.
Byron Xol’s school in San Miguel Limón. Byron is currently in a shelter in Baytown, where he turned 8 on June 24.
Byron Xol’s school in San Miguel Limón. Byron is currently in a shelter in Baytown, where he turned 8 on June 24.
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 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.”
301 Ilfrey St., Baytown, Texas, a BCFS facility for immigrant minors, seen Sunday Aug 12, 2018.
The Xol and Bol family talks to Byron on the phone. Byron, now 8, is in a shelter in Baytown, a thousand miles away from San Miguel Limón.
The Xol and Bol family talks to Byron on the phone. Byron, now 8, is in a shelter in Baytown, a thousand miles away from San Miguel Limón.
David Xol, an indigenous farmworker from Guatemala, made his way across Mexico with his his 7-year-old son, Byron. Xol was deported back to Guatemala; Byron remains in a shelter in Baytown.
The Xol and Bol home in San Miguel Limón, in the Guatemalan state of Alta Verapaz, where David Xol works on a plantation cutting African palm from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. six days a week.

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