A Mexican Couple in California Plans to Self-Deport–and Leave Their Kids Behind
4 months ago
- #deportation
- #immigration
- #family
- Lily García prepares for her seventeenth-birthday party in San Bernardino, California, with traditional Mexican decorations and a mechanical bull.
- Rosalinda, Lily's mother, prepares ceviche, a signature dish she sometimes sells for extra cash, while her son José searches for their ancestral home in Mazatlán, Mexico.
- Rosalinda and her husband Manuel, both undocumented, consider self-deporting due to fear of ICE raids and anti-immigrant policies under the Trump administration.
- The family buys a house in Mazatlán but delays moving until Lily turns eighteen to allow her to finish high school in the U.S.
- ICE raids and deportations create widespread fear in the immigrant community, leading to changes in daily routines and community support efforts.
- José, the eldest sibling, takes on significant responsibilities, including managing family assets and supporting his parents' transition to Mexico.
- Lily, grappling with her family's impending separation, focuses on her studies and future in psychology while dealing with the emotional toll of the situation.
- The family reflects on their life in the U.S., their identity, and the challenges of returning to a country they barely remember.
- Community organizations in San Bernardino provide support and resources for undocumented immigrants facing deportation threats.
- The García family's story highlights the broader impacts of U.S. immigration policies on mixed-status families and their resilience in the face of uncertainty.