Dear Mr. President,

I’m sorry to bother you, but I know you’ve heard of the little girl named Hania Aguilar. She was just thirteen years old and lived in my state of North Carolina, a United States citizen just waiting for her ride to middle school. Instead, she was kidnapped and after a desperate three week search, her body was found.

The FBI is hopeful that her murderer will be found and meanwhile, her family is planning a funeral for Saturday. Cely, her mother, wants verymuch for Hania’s father to attend which would require a visa since he lives and owns a business in Guatemala.

He returned there to live over ten years ago and wants only a few days in this country to say goodbye. Over 50,000 people have signed a petition to support the family, but on Monday, Noé Aguilar went to the United States Embassy in Guatemala City and his request for a temporary visa was denied. The Governor of NC, Roy Cooper, also wrote a letter to the State Department and was told again, the answer is NO.

President Trump, I realize you’re taking a real stand on immigration, but I know you remember what it was like to be the father of a beautiful thirteen year old daughter. This is not about border control, this is about humanity and a father being allowed to say goodbye to his little girl whose life ended so terribly on American soil.

Fathers should be allowed to kiss their children goodbye.

Sincerely, Adrian H. Wood NC Native

Mother of four