Additional Coverage:
- Grandparents living in US with no criminal record for 35 years deported ‘like animals’ by ICE (irishstar.com)
A Mexican couple with no criminal record and a 35-year history in the US was deported to Colombia in February, leaving their family reeling. Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, ages 55 and 59 respectively, were detained during what their daughter, Stephanie Gonzalez, 23, believed was a routine immigration appointment.
Stephanie told ABC News that her mother had initially received a one-year extension on her visa, leading the family to believe everything was in order. However, shortly after Gladys’s extension was granted, it was abruptly revoked.
Simultaneously, Nelson was detained by ICE. According to Stephanie, her parents were separated, held for hours without food, and shackled at both the wrists and ankles.
ICE officials confirmed the deportation, stating it was a standard procedure for individuals who have violated US immigration laws. The family expressed disbelief and frustration at the sudden and seemingly unwarranted deportation. Stephanie questioned the treatment her parents received, stating, “It baffles my mind how they’re treating people this way.”
This case follows a wave of deportations initiated after former President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law not used since World War II. The administration targeted alleged members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, deporting hundreds without allowing them to appear before a judge.
Despite the drastic measures, the administration has not publicly provided evidence linking those deported to the gang or any criminal activity in the US. Interestingly, the deportees associated with Tren de Aragua were sent to El Salvador, after a $6 million agreement to imprison approximately 300 alleged members there for a year.
Two high-ranking members of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang were also deported to El Salvador. Venezuela generally refuses to accept citizens deported by the US, although there have been a few exceptions.