A group of Venezuelan mothers and grandmothers have appealed to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump for help in reuniting them with their children.

The children have been separated from their parents after the latter's deportation or detention due to U.S. immigration policies.

The group sent a letter to Trump’s office last month, urging her to stop the separation policy and allow deported mothers to travel with their children.

Venezuelans are being steadily sent to their home country this year after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, under pressure from the White House, did away with his long-standing policy of not accepting deportees from the U.S.

Immigrants now arrive regularly at the airport outside the capital, Caracas, on flights operated by a U.S. government contractor or Venezuela’s state-owned airline.

Maduro’s government has said more than 10,000 migrants, including children, had returned to the South American country as of mid-August.

But not all parents have travelled with their children.

On Thursday, the campaigning group held a meeting with Camila Fabri, a government official who leads its repatriation plan.

During the meeting, mothers shared stories of their children and grandchildren, and some couldn't contain their tears as they spoke.

The situation has left many families heartbroken.

Trump’s office didn't immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press seeking comment on the letter.

Venezuela’s government on Thursday told the AP the letter, dated Aug. 18, was sent to the White House via a private mail delivery service.

Syntia Cáceres, 42, and José Martinez, 55, the grandparents of four-year-old Aurore Cáceres, attended the meeting with Fabri.

Later from their apartment in one of the buildings of the years-long government housing project launched by late president Hugo Chavez, they showed videos sent to them by the child's father, Syntia's son Javier Cáceres.

Cáceres said her grandchild was placed in foster care in Georgia after her son was detained in July.

She said the family caring for Aurore allowed them to speak with the girl one time last month but were later told child protection services instructed the family to end any contact.

"We simply want our children and grandchildren returned. That's all we want", said Syntia Cáceres to the Associated Press. "If you are going to deport the mothers and fathers, deport them with their children because we will receive them in here."

During a news conference earlier this week, President Nicolás Maduro also referred to the U.S. first lady, urging her to help and read the letter sent to her office.

AP video shot by Juan Arraez