Family torn apart as U.S deports Southern California couple after 35 years, separating them from daughters and grandson

A California family has been torn apart after immigration officials deported a couple who had lived in the United States for over 30 years. Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez, who raised three daughters in Laguna Niguel, were deported to Colombia earlier this week despite having no criminal record, leaving their loved ones devastated.

Now they must rebuild their lives in Colombia.

Why was the couple deported after so many years?

According to media reports, the couple from Southern California entered the country illegally about 35 years ago, they raised three daughters and now have a new grandson as well.

After initially entering the states close to San Ysidro, Orange County residents Nelson Gonzalez, 59, and his wife Gladys Gonzalez, 55, eventually made Laguna Niguel their home and began a family.

A representative for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told The Orange County Register that the Gonzalezes had "exhausted all legal options to remain in the U.S. between March 2000 and August 2021" and were ultimately in violation of immigration law, despite the fact that the couple had repeatedly appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services over the years, as quoted in a report by NewsNation.

How is their family coping with the separation?

During a routine check-in with U.S. immigration officials on February 21, their three daughters, both U.S. citizens, Gabby, 23, Jessica, 33, and Stephanie, 27, told KTLA they were devastated to hear that their parents had been detained.

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Before arriving at these detention facilities, they were treated like criminals and placed in handcuffs around their wrists and ankles, Stephanie Gonzalez told KTLA.

Even though they have been granted permission to be here annually and are law-abiding citizens who show up and fulfil their obligation to check in with immigration and say, "Hey, I'm here," all they said was that they had extended their stay and then simply arrested them in that manner, as per a report by NewsNation.

Initially detained at the Adelanto Detention Center in San Bernardino County, Gladys and Nelson, neither of whom has a criminal history, were later moved to a facility in Arizona and then Louisiana.

Despite being traumatized by everything that has happened, Stephanie told The Register that her parents are thankful to be out of detention facilities and have gotten in touch with family in Colombia who are assisting them in beginning a new life.

At the moment, Stephanie and Gabby, the two younger sisters, reside in Newport Beach with Jessica and her spouse. In the upcoming weeks, they all intend to visit their parents.

Family members also admitted that President Donald Trump and his administration's intention to increase the number of undocumented immigrants arrested and deported across the United States has impacted them, as it has many others.

FAQs

Why were the Gonzalez couple deported?
Despite living in the United States for 35 years, Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez had exhausted all legal options for staying, resulting in their detention and eventual deportation.

How do their daughters handle the situation?
The couple's three daughters, who were born in the United States, are devastated but plan to visit their parents in Colombia soon to adjust to life away from their family.