Immigrant Dad Who Moved To US Aged 13 And Longed To Visit Family Gets Surprised With Green Card After 30 Years

A first-generation immigrant dad fought back tears of happiness when his family surprised him with his Green Card and the news he could finally go home to visit his relatives after more than three decades of waiting. Hugo Rodriguez, 48, from Palmdale, California, had always dreamed of something bigger, his family in America said, and so he made the tough decision at the age of 14 to move to the United States in search of a better life. Leaving behind is parents, siblings and friends, Hugo made a life for himself in the United States, working night shifts for more than 30 years for the same company - where he also happened to meet his wife in the year 2000. But with such growth came sacrifices, too, as while Hugo was in America, both of his parents and one of his younger brothers passed, and he could not return home. Having applied for his Green Card, Hugo's updates were in the hands of his daughter, Itsy, 24, who was the first to hear the good news that her father's application had finally been approved. Itsy said she wanted to wait until the physical card arrived before telling her family and, in turn, her father, and when Hugo's wife, Rosa, saw the card for the first time, she broken down in tears of happiness. As Hugo works nights, Itsy and the family decided to set up a surprise for when he returned home, laying out the likes of luggage, a passport, the American flag and a series of balloons. When Hugo walked through the door on November 14, he immediately saw the display, picked up the letter with his card inside, and started to well up as he received a loving hug. The moment was captured on video by Itsy, who later recorded a series of special videos when her father returned to Zacatecas, Mexico, and reunited with his friends and family.

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