Understanding that Hispanic/Latino Heritage month is more than about food and dance and jumping off the interest in the Elvira Arellano case, today the Charlotte Observer is kicking off a 6-part immigration series with a look at how one family is torn apart by the mother’s legal status, and the agonizing decisions they must make once she’s deported to Guatemala.

It was March 26, a Sunday evening. Ten-year old Kayla was at her aunt’s house in Monroe, playing video games with her cousins. Her father, Ray, had just stepped in the front door. Her mother, Deysi, wasn’t with him.

Less than an hour before, Ray and Deysi — his partner of 10 years — were driving back from a soccer match in Monroe. A state trooper stopped them for an expired tag, and Deysi was jailed for being in the U.S. illegally. Eight years before, a warrant had been issued for her arrest after she failed to follow through on paperwork requesting asylum.

Once again it’s important that these stories be told to put a human dimension to the issue of immigration because if it were left to the right wing pundits and the politicians it’s easy to ignore that these are family values and issues we are dealing with.

Catch the whole series at The Charlotte Observer