Couple Deported After 35 Years in US, Leaving Family Devastated
In a case that has sparked widespread concern and drawn attention to the realities of American immigration policy, a Colombian couple who had lived in the United States for 35 years was deported last week, leaving behind their three American-born daughters and a newly expanded family.
Gladys Gonzalez, 55, and her husband Nelson Gonzalez, 59, were taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine check-in at an immigration office in Santa Ana, California, on February 21. After being detained for over three weeks, they were deported to Colombia on March 18.
A Life Built Over Decades, Now Upended
The couple, who entered the US without documentation in 1989 near San Ysidro, California, had lived in Laguna Niguel and raised three daughters who are now US citizens. According to the family, they had no criminal record, consistently complied with immigration appointments since 2000, and paid taxes.
The sudden removal has deeply affected the family. Their daughter, Stephanie Gonzalez, stated that her parents had been attending scheduled immigration appointments for over two decades and had shown no signs of non-compliance. A GoFundMe page created by the daughters described their parents as community-minded, law-abiding, and dedicated individuals who recently became grandparents.
Legal History and Immigration Proceedings
The couple received a voluntary departure order in 2000 after an immigration judge ruled they had no legal basis to remain in the US. However, they chose to stay, hoping to find legal pathways to citizenship. Voluntary departure allows individuals to exit the country on their own terms, within a set timeframe, to avoid formal deportation records.
In 2018, their deportation officer began to formally press for compliance with the earlier order, prompting legal consultation. Monica Crooms, an immigration attorney representing the couple since then, said that while the couple had expected to eventually leave the US, the abrupt nature of their removal came as a shock.
ICE Response and Broader Implications
An ICE spokesperson confirmed the deportation, noting that both individuals had exhausted all legal avenues to remain. The agency acknowledged they had no criminal history but maintained that they were subject to removal under US law due to their unauthorized entry.
The case has reignited conversations about long-term undocumented immigrants who have integrated into American society but remain vulnerable to deportation. Legal experts and immigrant advocacy groups argue that cases like this highlight the limitations of current immigration frameworks, particularly for those who have lived in the country for decades and contributed to their communities.
As their daughters now cope with the emotional and financial fallout of their parents’ deportation, they continue to seek support and raise awareness, hoping to shed light on a story that echoes through countless other families affected by America’s evolving immigration policy.
Also see:
Trump Announces “Reciprocal Tariff” Plan, Targets India and Other Nations
Tesla Signs Mumbai Showroom Lease, Marks Entry into Indian Market
EU Unveils €800 Billion Plan to Strengthen Defence
—————————————————————
It would mean the world to us if you follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
