Between 15 and 20 families of Azorean Portuguese descent have gotten their paperwork together, purchased a plane ticket, and flown back to the Azores, according to Helena da Silva Hughes, president of the nonprofit Immigrants’ Assistance Center at 58 Crapo St. in New Bedford. 

Hughes said about 1,000 undocumented families living in Greater Fall River who visited the United States and overstayed their tourist visas — while putting down roots deep enough to run businesses, purchase homes and start families — are now planning to return to Western Portugal and the Azores Islands, where they still have family and community connections. 

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“Families sold everything to come here,” Hughes said. Now, she said, they’re selling homes and businesses “to go back.”