Member Center

The Main Stream

Family fights to bring son home

Posted: Jul 8, 2010 11:38 PM
Updated: Jul 9, 2010 3:29 AM

Bookmark and Share
Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - A Tucson couple adopted a newborn from Mexico five years ago only to have him deported as a toddler.

Now after a mountain of legal bills, and a fight that's lasted over two years, the family is going public with their story.

Fighting back tears, Scott Jeffery talks about the difficulties of living in two countries. He also says it's heart wrenching every Sunday when he says good bye to his son Max.

"I watch his face as I drive away every week it doesn't get any easier," Jeffery says. The Jefferys adopted Max when he was 4 weeks old.

Their troubles began 2 ½ years later when they took him to Juarez, Mexico to obtain an immigrant visa from the American Consulate. That's when they discovered they didn't have the proper documents.

The consulate wouldn't let Max leave Mexico. The Jefferys were allowed temporary custody while they work on his Mexican adoption.

Jeffery says, "Don't punish my little boy for something we did, let him come home where he belongs."

For the last two years, the family has been separated, seeing one another on weekends and holidays.

Max, now 5, lives in Puerto Penasco with his mother. His dad and 11-year-old sister live in Tucson.

In the meantime they're fighting to bring Max home.

"We're guilty of loving this little boy more than anything else in the world, not guilty of any nefarious crime," Jeffery says. "We submitted a bad document. Did we know? No, we didn't know."

Max Jeffery told us via Skype, "I want to see my old train set, I want to see my big old trees."

Gina Jeffery says it's been challenging but wouldn't trade Max or her family for anything.

"We would just like to be in one place together in America," she says.

Her message to U-S Government officials: "Let us bring Max home. It's been two years."

News 4 attempted several times to call the Consulate in Juarez even left voice messages regarding Max. No one has called back.

The Jefferys say they're doing the best they can. For the first year, they took turns living in Mexico and still maintained their jobs. Since then, Gina had to quit hers, and is with Max full-time.

You can log onto BringMaxhome.com to learn more about the Jefferys and their fight to get citizenship for their son.

Comments

KVOA.com is Social!

Most Popular

DON'T MISS THESE!

Thumbnail
TUCSON TOGETHER

Volunteer. Donate. Be Kind.

Thumbnail
KRISTI'S KIDS

Stories and videos with Kristi's Kids

Thumbnail
NEWS 4 TUCSON LIFESAVER

Pool safety information and prize giveaways!

Thumbnail
KVOA.COM LATEST CONTESTS

Win! Win! Win!

Thumbnail
NEWS 4 TUCSON @ 4

What's happening on News 4 @ 4

Thumbnail
ADVERTISE WITH KVOA.COM

Let us help grow your business

Thumbnail
COMMUNITY CALENDAR

What's happening?

Thumbnail
KVOA PROGRAM SCHEDULE

What's on KVOA and when!

Thumbnail
ENJOY TUCSON

Money-saving coupons from retailers around the city!

Thumbnail
MEET US!

KVOA's on air personalities!