An Orange County couple, Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez, were deported to Colombia after living in the United States for 35 years. The couple, who had no criminal history, were detained during a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 21. Their sudden deportation has shocked their three adult daughters, who are American citizens.
The Gonzalezes’ case highlights a growing trend of immigrants with no criminal records being deported during routine check-ins. According to the Los Angeles Times, the couple had been living in the U.S. since 1989 after fleeing violence in Colombia. They consistently checked in with ICE and had been granted yearly extensions on their status.
Despite their compliance, the couple was taken to a detention center in Louisiana, where they were informed of their impending deportation. Their daughter, Stephanie Gonzalez, expressed her heartbreak, stating, “It breaks my heart because my parents are good people and they don’t deserve this.” Representative Mike Levin questioned the priority of deporting individuals without criminal backgrounds, calling it a “waste of resources.”
The deportation is part of President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts, which have expanded to include individuals without criminal convictions. Recent data shows that a significant portion of those detained by ICE have no criminal history. The Gonzalez family has set up a GoFundMe page to help their parents rebuild their lives in Colombia and possibly return to the U.S. in the future.
Fox LA reported that the couple’s daughters thanked supporters for their generosity, stating, “We are thankful this nightmare is over, while at the same time grieving the reality that our parents will not be coming home anytime soon.”
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