Gladis Gonzales and Nelson Gonzales They had lived in the United States for nearly four decades, after arriving from Colombia in 1989. The couple in California settled three daughters, who led the studies of the Bible in the Church and volunteer in the food stored during the Covid-19s.
But on February 21, their American dream reached a sudden end.
The spouses were arrested, in the fifties, and the handcuffs were caught while routinely checking in a migration court in Santa Anna, something they had regularly done since 2000. this time, they were placed in the federal reservation, were arrested for three weeks, then they were deported to Colombia.
“They expected that they would need to leave and plan to do this, but not the way it happened,” said Monica Chromez, the immigration lawyer who represented the couple since 2018.
Their daughter, Stephanie Gonzalez, said the deportation was unfair.
“For nearly four decades, they built a life here – raising three daughters, returning to their community, and recently welcomed their first grandson.”
“Now, they are treated as criminals.”
“We were able to raise $ 65,000 to help my parents rebuild their new life in Colombia, but we are also paying the price of the best lawyers so that they can one day return,” she added.
According to the enforcement of immigration and customs (ICE), the couple entered the United States without visas in 1989 and later sought asylum, as they escaped from the drug violence that Colombia afflicted at that time. However, in 2000, a migration court ruled that there is no legal basis for them to stay and issued a voluntary departure order.
Instead of leaving, the couple spent contracts in an attempt to find a legal way to stay. They were victims of fraudulent immigration lawyer, some of whom were later classified. They spent thousands of dollars on the legal advisor, in the hope of obtaining a path to citizenship, but every attempt was rejected.
Under American law, those who have sometimes deported orders can remain under an supervision order, which allowed Gladys and Nelson to stay in the country for years, and to verify annually with immigration authorities. But in recent years, the pressure on the deportation of individuals with long -term removal orders has increased.
Farewell, suddenly
Chromez said that from an ideal point of view, the couple had been given time to prepare for their departure, settle their affairs, and say goodbye to their family. Instead, they were held without any warning.
“We had to go and pick up their car from the car park and did not get goodbye,” Stephanie said.
Cromones Glades and Nelson Gonzales accompanied the annual immigration checks. However, this year, the couple attended without it. “I don’t know why they didn’t call me. I think they really felt that everything was good in the past.”
She emphasized that individuals, according to supervision orders, must be ready for the possibility of fear and removal during these selection operations. Crooms also advised both uncomfortable immigrants and permanent population to exercise extreme caution when traveling.
Their detention was delayed due to a bureaucratic accident, as ICE lost their passports, and the Colombian government had to issue new travel documents.
Gladys and Nelson are now returning to Colombia, a country where they have not lived for more than 35 years. Their daughters are doing their power to support them, and raised more than 65,000 dollars to help them rebuild their lives and finance legal efforts to return them.
Under American law, the couple is now prevented from returning for at least 10 years.
Stephanie said: “The amount of people being detained and placed in these places is very traumatized and I hope this administration will realize the harmful effect that this will have on many American families.”
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