Stephanie Gonzalez shared that she and her family have been deeply affected by the deportation of her parents, Gladys, 55, and Nelson, 59. She expressed her distress over the treatment of her parents, who have no criminal records and have lived in the United States for 35 years. Stephanie described feeling devastated as her parents were taken away and placed in what she described as inhumane conditions, likening their transportation to being treated like animals.
Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez were arrested and detained on February 21 during a routine supervision appointment. At first, Gladys was granted an extension to stay in the country for one year, providing a sense of relief for Stephanie and her family. However, the situation took a turn when Nelson called to inform them that they were both being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with Gladys’ extension revoked.
Stephanie recounted the distressing experience of her parents being separated into different rooms, handcuffed, and left without food for hours. She emphasized that her parents had never been involved in any criminal activities and were now being treated as criminals. ICE confirmed that the couple was deported to Colombia, despite their clean records.
Stephanie criticized the way her parents were transported to detention facilities in different states without any communication with their family, highlighting the confusion and emotional toll it took on them. She expressed disbelief at the treatment, describing it as cruel and dehumanizing. However, Stephanie found solace in the fact that her parents were eventually reunited on the same plane to Colombia, a heartwarming moment among the difficulties they faced.
The Gonzalez family originally came to America in 1989 seeking asylum from violence in Colombia. Stephanie shared their struggles with fraudulent lawyers and issues with citizenship paperwork, which hindered their efforts to legalize their status in the country. Despite these challenges, Stephanie expressed relief that her parents are now together in Colombia.
ICE stated that the couple lacked a legal basis to remain in the U.S. and were given a “voluntary departure” with a final removal in 2000. Stephanie Gonzalez confirmed that her parents faced a voluntary deportation in 2000, but they spent over 20 years filing appeals. Despite the closure of their cases in 2021, they were instructed to continue attending supervision appointments and checking in with authorities. During these visits, Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez were typically granted varying durations to stay in the U.S., sometimes lasting months or even years without immigration appearances. Stephanie Gonzalez criticized the inconsistency in the immigration system, highlighting the lack of clear rules and dependence on the discretion of individual officers.
Following a supervision visit in February that led to her parents’ deportation, Stephanie Gonzalez and her sisters were caught off guard as they were used to receiving positive news about their parents’ ability to stay in the country. The sudden separation was emotionally challenging, with Stephanie expressing distress over not being able to bid farewell properly. Despite offering to self-deport and cover their own travel expenses, the government declined the gesture, leaving the family to grapple with the aftermath. The burden of handling her parents’ affairs and possessions has compounded the grief, making it feel as though they have lost loved ones.
The tight-knit family dynamic, where Stephanie and her sister Gabriella lived with their parents in California, has been disrupted. The absence of their parents, particularly affecting their mother’s role in caring for Gabriella’s infant son, has been deeply felt. Nelson Gonzalez, a skilled phlebotomist and part-time Uber driver, was known for his hard work and dedication to supporting his family. Stephanie emphasized the positive contributions immigrants like her parents make to society and urged a shift in the public’s perception of them as law-abiding, tax-paying individuals who cherish America.
To alleviate some of the financial strain caused by their parents’ deportation, Stephanie and her sisters launched a GoFundMe campaign that has garnered significant support. She lamented the widespread issue of families being torn apart by immigration policies, calling for a more compassionate approach to prevent further separations and uphold the unity of families.
“The daughter of a couple deported with no criminal record described how their hearts were broken,” she said. The family was transported “like animals.” This story was first reported on abcnews.go.com.
