Three Southern California sisters are devastated and working to get by after they said their parents were suddenly taken away from them by immigration authorities.

It’s been weeks since their mother, Gladys, and father, Nelson, were detained after the couple went in for a standard appointment with immigration authorities.

“You never think that it could happen to you and my parents were just ripped away from me like that,” Gabby Gonzalez, the couple’s daughter, said tearfully. “Then this happened on Feb. 21. I didn’t even know they had the appointment and I didn’t even say goodbye to my dad that morning. I didn’t get to say goodbye to them.”

Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez moved from Colombia to the U.S. without documentation 35 years ago before settling down in Newport Beach in Orange County and building a life. The couple has raised three daughters and now have a young grandson. 

They are one of thousands of undocumented immigrants who regularly report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while seeking legal alternatives to remain in the U.S.

The Gonzalez sisters said their parents were detained at their ICE appointment and then transferred to a detention center. 

“They were put into handcuffs by their wrists and ankles and treated as criminals before getting to these detention centers,” Stephanie said. “All they said is they extended their stay, even though every year they’ve had permission to be here and they’re law-abiding citizens who show up and are doing their duty to check in with immigration and say, ‘Hey I’m here. I’m not hiding or doing anything wrong.’ Then they just arrested them like that.”

The Gonzalez family said they’re one of many who have been affected by President Donald Trump and his administration’s goal to ramp up arrests and deportations throughout the U.S.

“I’m a proud daughter of immigrant parents,” Gabby said. “I’m very thankful for them coming here and starting from nothing and giving us the best life we could have ever imagined. We only want to make them proud.”

Gladys and Nelson were being held at the Adelanto detention center in San Bernardino County until they were transported to a facility in Arizona.

“She called us and let us know that she’s in Arizona which is where my dad is as well,” Gabby said. “She kind of sounded a bit muffly because it’s a traumatizing experience.”

The sisters and their loved ones said they’re relying on their faith to get by while hoping their parents’ immigration case is sorted. They said they would be devastated if their parents were deported.

A GoFundMe page to help the Gonzalez family with legal expenses or to support Gladys and Nelson if they must rebuild their lives in Colombia can be found here.