We immigrated back. You made the right call. I’m a US citizen and my spouse is still waiting on her GC and at this point we’re seriously debating packing up and moving. Even with the parole they give you ominous warnings about traveling without the green card. When we submitted her application we were told 6 months. That has been extended to 18 and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s 36.
[1] I was natural born so it was entirely by choice. Specifically, my wife was not in the US and we compared what it would take to get me into her country vs. her into mine and it was a difference of... starkness, thousands of dollars and the possibility of her being unable to work for a period.