“I remember having to stay in a little room that looked like a fancy jail with my sister overnight, while my mother was being interrogated for hours," Rodriguez said. "There was nothing in the room besides a little bench and they brought in a small TV for us to watch cartoons and movies.
“I was never scared because my mother didn’t tell my sister and I what the call had been about or any of the details since we were pretty young,” he continued. “She had just told us that we had to go, and I could tell it was serious, but I was never really concerned for some reason.”
After hours passed, Rodriguez and his family were granted the permit, eventually became United States citizens, and have been living in San Diego ever since.
Of the many feelings that arose that winter night, Rodriguez was especially adamant in expressing his gratitude.