The father and half-sister of slain 11-year-old AbbieGail "Abbie" Smith arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, early Friday morning on a desperate, last-ditch mission to enter the U.S. for the girl's funeral in Keansburg Monday.

The day before, they had issued a tearful plea to President Donald Trump to intervene after AbbieGail's half-sister, Kenish Smith, had her temporary visa application denied and her father Kenroy Smith was still waiting for approval.

"My dear little AbbieGail was taken away and I need to pay my last respects to her," Kenroy Smith said breaking down in tears in an exclusive video to APP.com, which you can see at the top of this story. "That's all I'm asking."

But their hopes were dashed.

AbbieGail's father said he was denied a temporary visa because he had been deported following a marijuana arrest in 2001. He said he showed an embassy official a photo of AbbieGail that had been circulating in the news media and explained the circumstances of her death, but the official said there was nothing he could do.

More:Funeral set for 11-year-old girl murdered in Keansburg

"I don’t care if I’m escorted for the two days and I’ll come back to Jamaica. I just want to see my child for the last time," he said in a phone interview Friday.

Kenish Smith, 28, sought answers after her application was denied on Wednesday. Embassy officials told her she didn't have strong enough ties to Jamaica and was a threat to overstay her visa in the U.S.

“I tried to question what did they mean, I did have ties," she said. "I have my three children, my job and my school. I would never want to run away and leave my three children in Jamaica. I just want to be there for my sister. I don’t understand."

With the embassy closed Saturday, the two said without immediate intervention they wouldn't make it to the U.S. in time to see AbbieGail laid to rest. Walking out of the embassy, Kenroy said he broke down in sobs facing the prospect of missing his youngest daughter's funeral.

"I was just wondering why would they deny me the chance to see my daughter for the last time," he said. “I just want to see my beautiful angel. She’s my diamond. She always shines when I see her."

Again Friday, Kenroy Smith frantically appealed to Trump to step in.

"Mr. Trump, she is my daughter. Put yourself in my position and see what would be suitable to you as a father who nourishes and cares for your child," he said.

More:Father to Trump: Let us in U.S. to attend AbbieGail Smith's funeral

AbbieGail will be buried on Monday following a Mass at St. Ann's Church in Keansburg. Visitation will be held at Jacqueline M. Ryan Funeral Home in Keansburg, from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

AbbieGail's body was found July 13 wrapped in a blanket on the roof of her Keansburg apartment building hours after she was reported missing, authorities said. She was killed by a stab wound to the neck, according to a county coroner.

Smith's upstairs neighbor Andreas Erazo has been charged with her murder. He is in the Monmouth County Jail awaiting a bail hearing.

More:Stab wound to neck killed AbbieGail Smith

More:Accused child killer, 'Dead End' on the docket

AbbieGail moved to the U.S. with her mother Carol Bennett and other members of her family in 2007. She is survived by five brothers and three sisters, including Kenish Smith, according to her obituary.

After the decision was handed down, the father and half-sister said they lingered in their car across the street from the embassy hoping someone would step in to help.

"We're sitting across from the embassy like we're lost," Kenroy Smith said.

"It's the mere fact that we still have hope," Kenish Smith added.

Latisha Smith, one of AbbieGail's half-sisters who lives in Maryland, has hired an attorney to try to help obtain visas for Kenroy and Kenish. She said she has been writing emails to elected officials and going to local immigration offices in a frantic effort to help get the two cleared to enter the U.S.

"Every minute it's like I'm hitting a roadblock, but I'm just not going to stop," Latisha said. "I'm not stopping until they're here."

Kenroy Smith said he had been in touch with his wife, Bennett, and other members of the family in the U.S.

"They are doing their best to get me there too," he said.

Latisha Smith said AbbieGail frequently visited her father in Jamaica and that Kenroy had developed a special bond with his youngest daughter.

"She means the world to him. That was his angel," she said.

More:Keansburg mom to 11-year-old daughter's accused killer: 'May you rot in jail'

Andrew Goudsward: 732-643-4035; agoudward@gannettnj.com