Isabella Ruiz, 14, a freshman in McAllen, wants to become a veterinarian. Her father, who is undocumented, was arrested in December and held at Port Isabel Detention Center, operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 60 miles east of McAllen. He was released in January, but the family has struggled financially since then: their water was shut off for lack of payment, and they had to carry bottles and buckets from her grandfather’s house.

When my dad was in jail, my mom, she would have to pay all the bail bonds and everything. So at one point we didn’t have water for, like, two weeks. We would have to go over there to take showers, and then put the water in the buckets. We’d fill them up over there and then put them back in the car and then bring them down.

My mom transports people to dialysis or wherever they need to go. My dad works as a cook in a restaurant.

I see my parents have to go through the stress. My mom wants to find a second job. I just feel bad because they have to do all this stuff, and I’m not 16 yet, so I can’t help them. As soon as I turn 16, I want to put in my applications so I can help them with the bills and everything. I mean, school comes first, but I’m planning on working and doing school so I can help them out. My mom has always told me, “You’re going to go to college.” I know it’s going to be a struggle, but I have to go. I want to do something with my life. I don’t want to struggle as much as my parents did to support their family.

When my dad was in ICE, I didn’t really want to go out or anything.

One time, my friend asked me to go and I said no, but then my mom made me, because she saw how I was just here at the house. We would go visit him sometimes, but then it would make me more sad because I would just see him through a glass. When he got released, we were there waiting. I just saw him get out of the van and I just ran to him. Me and my mom ran to him and he hugged us, and I just started crying.