Jose and Angelina Ambriz

Angels in Adoption 2005 - California

Selected by Representative Bob Filner

My Angels in Adoption (tm) for 2005 are Jose and Angelina Ambriz, a couple who live in Calexico, CA in my Congressional District. They are the adoptive parents of Gabriel and the foster parents of Eric, whom they are in the process of adopting. They are both industrial engineers, working at the Imperial Irrigation District, a public utility. I am selecting them as my Angels in Adoption (tm) because of their loving perseverance under difficult circumstances in the adoption of Gabriel. The adoption agency in Mexico completed their approval process before 9/11, and Jose and Angelina went to live with their 7-month old son in Mexico until the papers to bring Gabriel into the United States were finalized. They anticipated a short stay. After 9/11, everything changed, and months went by with no papers. Living in Mexico, with their house payments and other bills in the United States continuing to be due, was taking a toll on the family. After 2 years, they came to my office for help - and we were able to obtain a humanitarian parole for Gabriel in 5 days, which allowed him to come home to Calexico with his family. Several months later, Gabriel became an American citizen!