Lesley Castillo never thought that her next door neighbor would become her husband in 2002. And she would never have guessed that two years later she would lose him, simply because they tried to do right by the United States government.

Jose Castillo came to the U.S. illegally, and was working for a company out-of-state when they met. Jose and Lesley wed in 2002 and had their first child, Sabrina, in 2003.

In October 2004, Lesley and Jose decided that it would be best for him to return to Mexico, as he was living in the U.S. illegally, and the laws were becoming stricter.

Although he had a court wedding and a speeding ticket in Phoenix, Ariz., Jose was never caught for his immigration status.

“But it was too scary,” said Lesley Castillo. "We decided it was best to send him back to Mexico to do this the legal way."

Lesley consulted immigration attorneys for a second opinion regarding Jose's illegal status, and they all seemed to think it was a good idea.

When the decision was made to send Jose back, Lesley thought it would only take nine months to a year to finish all of the paperwork and get him home to Phoenix.

However, the process was much more rigorous than they had expected. The Castillo's spent a week in Mexico with Jose, as he was medically examined and interviewed. At his interview in January 2008, he was told that his petition would be denied for 10 years (with a 2-year credit), due to his "voluntary deportation.

Lesley was shocked when she heard the news.

Four years, and $6,000, after making the initial decision to send Jose back to Mexico, Lesley is left with a feeling of despair that she will have to wait out the last eight years of her husband's sentence. In all that time, she had only been able to see her husband once.

Jose holding his daughter Sabrina.

Lesley Castillo

Her attempts to contact senators and government agencies about the situation have resulted in no response, leaving Lesley Castillo frustrated.

Meanwhile, Jose is waiting out his remaining years working in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. According to Lesley Castillo, she and her husband are still trying to figure out how to complete the process in a legal manner, but have talked about him coming back illegally once again, due to the circumstances.

Having her husband in another country has taken a toll on Lesley Castillo and her children. Sabrina is having the hardest time dealing with her father being away.

“She was sick, she lost her hair...she had bald spots after he left," she said.

After 8 months, Sabrina has started to get better. She began talking to her father on the phone, which she had previously refused to do.

Lesley Castillo said that divorce is not an option and she refuses to move her children to Mexico. Because they do not know Spanish, it would be too much of a culture shock.

As for now, Lesley plans to continue, "doing what she's doing," until she "figures out something better to do."

To hear Lesley Castillo's story, click play below: