Two undocumented immigrants with no criminal history, Gladys Gonzales and Nelson Gonzalez, have been deported to Colombia after 35 years living in California. The couple, who are parents of three US-born children, were arrested during a routine check-in with ICE and detained for three weeks before being released on March 18.
Gonzales, 55, and her husband, Gonzalez, 59, entered the country in November 1989 near San Ysidro, California. They claimed they had exhausted all legal options to remain in the US after spending over two decades trying to resolve their immigration status through various courts and appeals processes.
Their daughters, who are reportedly US citizens, launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for their parents’ relocation to Colombia. The couple’s removal has left them “in shock” and financially strained, according to the daughters’ statement on the platform.
ICE confirmed that Gonzales and Gonzalez had no criminal history and had filed for asylum in 1992 but saw their case closed after failing to attend an interview. They agreed to leave the country voluntarily in 2000 but continued to seek a legal way to remain through subsequent appeals processes.
The deportation has sparked concerns about the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, which appears to target not only violent criminals but also permanent residents and vulnerable individuals. This case is one of many examples that have raised questions about the fairness and effectiveness of the US immigration system.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-deportations-undocumented-immigrants-b2720853.html