California Woman Returns Home After Trump Deportation

A U.S. resident of 27 years, Maria de Jesús Estrada Juárez, has returned to Sacramento, California, after being deported to Mexico by the Trump administration. The reunion with her daughter occurred this week following a judge’s order for her return.

Deportation and Initial Separation

Estrada Juárez, a Mexican citizen, had been living in the U.S. since 1999 and was previously protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This program shielded many brought to the U.S. as children, provided they maintained a clean record. However, on February 18th, she was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an immigration hearing and deported the following day.

“I didn't get to say goodbye,” Estrada Juárez shared at a news conference on Tuesday. “It all happened so fast. This has been one of the most painful experiences of my life.”

Daughter's Experience

Estrada Juárez’s 22-year-old daughter, Damaris Bello, described the emotional toll of the sudden separation. “It’s hard to describe what it feels like to lose your mother so suddenly, especially when you believed she was safe,” Bello said. “It was like grieving someone who was still alive.”

The Legal Battle and Judge's Order

The Department of Homeland Security reports that dozens of DACA recipients were deported during President Trump’s second term. Immigration advocates argue Estrada Juárez’s case underscores the need for more permanent protections for “Dreamers.”

The case is considered unusual, as a judge ordered Estrada Juárez’s return to the U.S. after deportation. According to Talia Inlender, deputy director of the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at the UCLA School of Law, this is happening with increasing frequency due to the current administration’s focus on speed and quotas in deportations.

Federal officials stated Estrada Juárez was deported due to a 1998 removal order issued when she was a teenager, shortly after her initial arrival in the U.S. She had returned to the U.S. weeks later and maintained DACA status since 2013. The 1998 order was reinstated upon her arrest in February.

Court Ruling

U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins issued a temporary restraining order on March 23rd, requiring the federal government to facilitate Estrada Juárez’s return within seven days. Judge Coggins determined the deportation was a “flagrant violation” of her DACA protections and due process rights.

ICE stated they comply with all court orders, but a department spokesperson characterized the ruling as coming from a “Biden-appointed activist judge.” Immigration attorney Stacy Tolchin emphasized that DACA provides a “vested right to not be deported once it’s granted.”

Reunion and Hope for the Future

Estrada Juárez was reunited with her daughter on Monday night. Bello expressed immense relief, stating, “Having her back home means everything to me. It means we can begin to heal, to rebuild and to move forward together as a family.” She hopes other families will not experience similar hardship.