Hugs at the border

Standing on the Mexico side, Eva Arguello, 71, wipes her tears after seeing her 33-year-old son, Andres Gallegos, standing on the U.S. side.

Standing on the Mexico side of the border, Eva Arguello, 71, passes a straw through meshed fence so her 10-year-old grandson Saiid Gallegos, standing on U.S. side, can sip apple juice.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Standing on U.S. side of the border, Andres Gallegos Arguello sips apple juice from a straw passed through meshed fence at Friendship Circle.

Andres Gallegos and Eva Arguello look through the meshed fence for their son, Andres Gallegos Arguello, standing on the U.S. side.

Andres Gallegos, 33, holds his 10-year-old son Saiid Gallegos to meet family on the Mexico side of the meshed fence.

A mariachi band plays on the Mexican side.

Standing on the U.S. side of the border, Arcen Avagyan, 42, left, trains his eyes on the meshed fence looking for his wife, who is in Mexico.

Standing on U.S. side of the border, Arcen Avagyan, 42, sneaks into prohibited area to meet his wife, Anna Sargisyan, 28, in Mexico.   (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times )

Arcen Avagyan kisses his wife, Anna Sargisyan.