Ever since federal immigration agents arrested and deported his mom, the 12-year-old Utahn says he has been thinking about petitioning for his parents to become legal U.S. residents as soon as he is old enough to do so. He plans to apply Nov. 14, 2012.

"I don't want to worry about one day being happy and the next day being sad," he says, referring to the Dec. 12 federal raid on the Swift meat-packing plant in Hyrum.

Miguel and his father, Ignacio Yturbe, say the last few months have been unbearable without a mom or wife.

After the raid, Victor, Miguel's 5-year-old brother, couldn't understand what happened to his mom, Noemi Yturbe. He asked if his mom had committed murder. He refused to let his dad sleep on "mom's side" of the bed. When he saw law enforcement officers, he often asked if they were the ones who took his mom.

"[Victor] would tell me, 'Dad don't go [to work] because I don't want them to get you, too,' '' Ignacio says.

Miguel, who along with Victor was born and raised in this small but growing city, making him a U.S. citizen, knows why his mom was arrested and deported to Mexico. She is "illegal."

She came to Utah without proper U.S. documentation because she knew she could find a good job and give her future family a better life. She bought a name and Social Security number for $700 so she could work.

"No humans should be illegal," Miguel says. "If they have children in the U.S., they should be able to get a visa to be able to work."

jsanchez@sltrib.com