I want to thank everyone who is coming to our website and helping my family. I want to tell you how I feel from my heart. I feel like I am supposed to be the provider for my family and my children had everything that they needed in the United States. They were in a Christian school and they were safe and learning about Christ. They had a chance to learn and be “somebody” in the United States. I don’t feel that in Argentina they will have the same chance to be successful in life. In Argentina in many areas there is lots of poverty and I’m currently living in one of these areas. The laws are not enforced here in Argentina as they are in the United States and that’s the biggest reason I want my family in The United States. I am fearful for their safety here. I am very sad to be without my wife and children here but I felt it was the best choice for their well being.

I would like an opportunity to have the interview so I can explain everything that has happened and I’m hopeful that my voice will now be heard and consideration given to me and my family. I wish there was a way to turn back time and make a different choice but I would not have met my wife and I would not have my two beautiful children. I believe they are all a gift from God and I want to provide for the family God has given to me. Even though this has all happened to me, I love God, my family and the United States. The United States helped make me the man I am today and I’m grateful for the time that I had there and I hope to return soon.

Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to logon and pass this website address to as many people as you can. The fact that you took time out of your schedule to logon and take interest in my case, I feel blessed. May God bless you. Sincerely, Marcelo Caruso

We met the Caruso family in January, 2008. After not being able to see our own grandchildren, a lady from our church introduced us to Melanie Caruso. It seems that
this young woman had moved with her family to North Carolina away from her home
state of California and needed someone to dote on her two little girls who were so far
away from their real grandparents. I met Melanie and her two little girls, Sophia (2), and Bella (3) for lunch. I was told that the little one was especially attached to her Daddy and would not go to strangers, for me not to be offended or hurt. When I walked
in, I was introduced to all of them and thus began a most amazing relationship.

The Caruso family had been in North Carolina for two years. They didn't know too many people and certainly didn't have anyone to leave their little girls with for a few hours just to go to a movie or out to eat. Especially the Daddy, Marcelo, was careful
with his beloved little girls and strangers, but he and his wife were eager for a night out
together. It was decided that my husband and I would watch them from four o'clock in the afternoon of January 26th until around 9PM. At the time, we were estranged from our only son and his family and Melanie had great empathy for us and offered that morning to let the girls come earlier if we wanted. We were excited and ready for the
opportunity to watch over these precious little girls. We met Marcelo when they brought the girls to our house. Melanie had told me that it would be a while before they could ever stay the night because Marcelo wanted to get to know the people he entrusted his children too better. We clearly understood.

We kept the girls most of the day on January 26th. We brought out a bag of toys, books to read, and snacks to eat. We loved watching the girls play with the very toys we had
purchased for our own granddaughter that were never used. The girls especially loved
chasing our crazy cat, Sassy! They squealed with delight just from the sight of her hiding under our couch. We took pictures and laughed at the joy these precious darlings made out of one silly old cat. The littlest child clung to me most of the day which was
amazing as I knew she seldom did this....went to strangers. She loved to sit on my lap and look at picture books while I scratched her little arms. She fell asleep and I was
able to put her in our crib for her nap. The day just went much too fast. It was wonderful, but before we knew it, it was 9. Within minutes, the parents were ringing the doorbell to pick up the girls. I carried the little one in my arms to the back door to see
them. She immediately reached for her Mom, then went from her arms to her Daddy's.
Knowing I'd been told she was so attached to him, I turned to walk back into the kitchen.
The little one began to grunt, reaching out for me. Her Daddy, mommy, and I were all
surprised that she had taken on to me so quickly. Marcelo said, “Look at that, Mommy!
Sophia wants her Gamma!” Of course, this won my heart over.

The girls were put into their car seats to go home, and we were sure they would fall asleep before leaving our drive, but we were later told they had giggled and laughed and talked about Gamma and Pawpaw all the way home that night. We were also told that
Marcelo was so impressed with us that we could even have them stay the night the very
next weekend. We were overjoyed!

Over the course of the next year, we had many delightful experiences with the Caruso
family. We were invited to attend church with them over Easter, play dates at the park,
meals in their homes, and Trick-or-Treating at Halloween. We truly became Gamma
and Pawpaw to their children. We had never met a more generous couple nor a more respectful one either. In Marcelo's home, people took their shoes off at the door; however, when Gamma and Pawpaw came to his house, he rushed to provide us with slippers for our feet so they “would not be cold”. We traveled to the beach for a long
weekend, saw the Aquarium, and just spent simple evenings in the back yard of our home with Marcelo and his family.

Marcelo was always polite to us. Always welcomed us into his home. He was a leader
in his church, often hosting couples in his home for Bible Study and Alpha groups after
working long hours at his job. He has a strong Christian faith, one which is seldom seen in someone so young. In the course of a year, Marcelo always worked hard, took care of his children, attended church, and was a strong supporting husband for his wife. In our association with him, we've never known him to cheat anyone, ask the government for assistance, or break the law in any way. He worked as a Certified and top performing auto body mechanic for Honda of Concord. He attended classes and seminars at night to expand his knowledge and certification in his field. We have been told that his company still wants him back with them upon his return. Melanie had a wonderful job with the insurance company, Edwards, Church, and Muse in Charlotte, NC. Marcelo has always spoken very highly about being in America, getting an education, and working hard to take care of his family.

Marcelo is a man without a country now. His children were removed from their lovely home in order to be with their father in a poverty stricken area of Argentina. They knew
none of the language, were way out of their comfort zone, and were forced to spend all of their days and nights cooped up in a small dingy house in a horrific neighborhood...nothing of which they had ever seen or experienced. I observed via web cam the depression that quickly set in on the entire family...Marcelo, Melanie, little Bella, and Sophia. They were lethargic much of the time and had little to fill the time of endless days without friends or family. The little girls went back to sucking their fingers, Bella began screaming out during the night, and I saw them go from happy, playful children to zombies. It broke our hearts to see them living this way. They are losing their home, their cars, their jobs, all their belongs forcing them to file for bankruptcy after working endlessly to provide for one another and their small children.

Now we've learned that Marcelo has sent his family to California for their own health and well being. But, this family cannot live apart like this. His wife has always been an American citizen and his two daughters are American citizens. It is deplorable that he cannot live here in the States with his family. They have been stripped of their home, family, friends, and jobs. They need one another and a chance to restore the life they had as Americans. We have grown extremely fond of this caring and kind family. Please do all that you can to allow this wonderful and productive man to return to the United States as a United States citizen.

Respectfully yours,

I'm praying he comes home.