TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - A Colombian family has self-deported from Tucson.13 News was the first to tell you about the Goez-Santos family’s decision to self-deport.13 News reporter Raya Torres spoke with the mother about her decision and met her four children. The youngest two children are also U.S. citizens. The family was scheduled to self-deport after Thanksgiving, and they are now in the custody of ICE agents who promised that they would safely return them to Colombia.Outside of the ICE office on Country Club Road on Tucson’s southside, a crowd of mre than a dozen people gathered to say farewell to the family.Many cried, hugged the young children, and said “we love you” as they walked through the gates of the facility.The oldest child, 9-year-old Emili, is the only one in the family who speaks English. She said goodbye to her grandparents one last time in a tearful farewell before entering the gate, saying “Bye, Abuela, bye grandpa. I’m going to miss you all.”Emili’s grandparents said they, too, are heartbroken.She told 13 News in Spanish, “The last thing I wanted is for my family to be separated in this way. They did not come here to hurt anybody, and they were looking for a better future for her grandkids.”Yarlidis Goez-Santos, the mother of the four children, previously told 13 News that self-deportation was the best decision for her family after her husband was deported in January 2025.On Tuesday, Goez-Santos remained firm in her decision. Through bittersweet tears, she expressed her gratitude.“I don’t have the words to express just how grateful I am,” Goez-Santos said. “I want to thank all the people that we met while we stayed here.”She says “Vamos ninos” or “Let’s go, kids” as the family begun entering the gates of the ICE facility to be processed. Amid hugs and saying goodbye to loved ones, they brought in the bags they packed through the gates.Their entire life was packed in just a couple of bags.Each person was allowed to bring one small suitcase weighing a maximum of 40 pounds and one backpack. All additional baggage, including the 5-month-old’s car seat, was left behind.Emili’s final goodbye was only heard through the gates. With her voice cracking, she yelled, “Goodbye, grandpa, I’m going to miss you!”Lucia Vindiola, a close friend of the family, told 13 News that the family will be missed greatly by the community.“She would have been just a blessing as a person here in the (United) States,” Vindiola said. “She would’ve given so much, and so would her kids. Her kids are brilliant, smart little kids. But, we’re going to lose out on all of that because they’re going back.”As of this report, the loved ones of the Goez-Santos family told 13 News that the mother and her children were at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport with ICE agents who were escorting them.They did not have any details of where their flight was going, nor when their flight would leave.You can submit your breaking news or weather images here.