Recently, I met a family who immigrated to America from Venezuela. They came legally.

Over coffee, they told me their story, which was an extraordinary tale of grit and struggle and ambition and foreboding.

It took them more than a year to get to New York City from their hometown near Caracas.

They traveled by bus and train and on foot across Venezuela and Colombia before reaching the Darien Gap.

The Gap is the thick jungle that borders Panama and it used to be considered impassable. It is controlled by men with guns who traffic arms, drugs and immigrants.

It was the worst part of the trip. It took two months. The parents had to carry the two girls – aged 5 and 7 – on their backs as they forded streams. The girls said they saw dead bodies.

Eventually, they reached Mexico City where they had to wait for nine months for the paperwork to apply for aylum. Then they headed north to cross the border.

They walked across the bridge over the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass and showed their documents. They were welcomed into the country.

They liked Texas because it was warm and people seemed friendly but they ultimately decided to head further north to New York City.

They arrived late last year. Charities provided them winter clothes and arranged for a place to stay. The girls enrolled in public school.

When we met, their mother told me their story and talked about their efforts to secure permanent status.

The girls sat at the table practicing their English while drawing pictures.

The mother understood that the mood in the country had changed dramatically since they had started their journey. They were aware that it was going to be a tough road ahead.

They were optimistic. They had come so far and overcome so many obstacles.

They were a lovely family. The girls had just seen their first snow. They enjoyed school. They said the best part was school lunch!

They didn’t seem to know Trump had already said he would cancel the program allowing Venezuelans to apply for residency.

They didn’t realize that after all those miles and hazards they would probably soon be sent back.

And I didn’t have the heart to tell them.