Deported DREAMer Reunites with Daughter After Court Ruling
Maria de Jesús Estrada Juárez’s return to the United States this week marks a significant turn in a story filled with legal battles and emotional challenges. Estrada Juárez, a DACA recipient, had been deported earlier this year but was allowed to return after a federal judge ruled her deportation was unlawful. NPR’s Scott Simon interviewed Estrada Juárez and her daughter, Damaris Bello, to discuss their ordeal.
Estrada Juárez arrived in the U.S. as a minor in 1998 and became one of the many DREAMers protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Despite her long-standing presence in the U.S., her life took a dramatic turn when she was deported to Mexico in February following an immigration hearing for her green card application.
“Within not even 30 minutes, I got detained and deported back to Mexico in less than 24 hours,” Estrada Juárez recounted. She emphasized her active DACA status, yet her pleas were ignored. Her daughter, Damaris Bello, described the experience as a nightmare, stating, “I felt helpless, small and invisible.”
Estrada Juárez’s deportation involved a harrowing journey. She was handcuffed and transported across California before reaching the Mexico border. Despite requesting her diabetes medication, she was denied access. “I never felt so humiliated,” she said, recalling that officials referred to her and others as “things, not humans.”
As an only child, Bello faced immense pressure, suddenly thrust into responsibilities her mother once managed. She expressed the emotional toll of their separation, noting, “They say they’re enforcing the law, but what often gets lost is the human impact.”
Their reunion in Sacramento brought relief but also the reality of ongoing legal challenges. Bello’s efforts to bring her mother back involved tirelessly contacting various people and organizations. Estrada Juárez expressed pride in her daughter’s resilience, stating, “She did not let her voice to be quiet.”
Despite the joy of being reunited, the future remains uncertain as they face upcoming legal proceedings. Bello shared that retelling their story is emotionally draining but necessary. “It doesn’t erase everything that happened,” she said. “Kind of just gives you the chance to start the healing process.”
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to NPR’s request for comment. An earlier DHS statement described the judge’s ruling as “another ruling from a Biden-appointed activist judge,” emphasizing that DACA does not confer legal status.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
