A family deported to Mexico is hoping to find a way back to the U.S. to continue their 10-year-old daughter’s brain cancer treatment. The girl, a U.S. citizen, and her four American siblings were removed from Texas on Feb. 4 when their undocumented parents were deported.
The family’s troubles began when they urgently traveled from Rio Grande to Houston for their daughter’s medical checkup. Despite having made this trip multiple times before without issue, presenting letters from doctors and lawyers at immigration checkpoints, they were arrested in February for lacking proper documentation. The parents, who have no criminal record, were unable to convince officers of their daughter’s medical needs.
The mother shared that her daughter, who had brain cancer surgery last year, still faces challenges with speech and mobility. Before their deportation, she was receiving medical care and rehabilitation therapies.
The family’s situation has drawn attention to broader issues faced by mixed-status families under the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Despite the administration’s stance that families can be deported together, undocumented parents risk losing custody of their U.S.-born children if detained. This can lead to children entering the foster care system, making it difficult for parents to regain custody in the future.
Four American children from Texas were moved by their parents. The Texas Civil Rights Project blurred the photo for safety reasons. The girl’s mother expressed feeling helpless, stating in Spanish, “You’re between a rock and a hard place.” NBC News is not revealing the family’s names as they were deported to a dangerous area in Mexico where U.S. citizens are targeted for kidnapping. The parents, along with their 10-year-old sick daughter, and four other children aged 15, 13, 8, and 6, were detained. Four of the children were born in the U.S.
After being separated at a detention center, the family was dropped on the Mexican side of a Texas bridge. They sought refuge at a nearby shelter before moving to a house. Safety concerns keep them awake at night, and the children have not been able to attend school. The 10-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son, who has a heart condition, have not received proper medical care in Mexico. The mother fears for her children’s lives.
The parents arrived in the U.S. from Mexico in 2013, aiming for a better life. They worked multiple jobs to support their six children. They also have a 17-year-old son left in Texas after their deportation. Another undocumented mother in California, caring for her 21-year-old daughter with bone cancer, was detained and later released on humanitarian grounds. Garza called on the government to rectify the situation and show compassion.
