What Seemed Like an Immigration Appointment Ended With a Mother and Her Children Deported

• Mother deported by ICE after appointment
• Deaf child deported with family
• Calls for their return to the U.S.

According to reports from La Opinión, a Hispanic mother was deported to Colombia along with her two young children after attending what she believed would be a routine immigration appointment in Northern California.

Leslie Rodríguez, 28, attended the March 3 appointment with immigration authorities hoping to continue her political asylum process related to a domestic violence case.

However, what seemed like a standard procedure ended with her detention by agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Her two children were also detained: a four-year-old girl and Joseph Rodríguez, a six-year-old boy with a hearing disability.

“She was misled because she was told she only needed to update photos, and that’s when they detained her,” a relative said when describing what happened.

After the arrest, the mother and her children were transferred to two different detention centers.

Two days later, authorities deported them to Colombia.

The situation has raised concerns among family members and political leaders in the state.

Detention during immigration appointment

According to the family’s account, Leslie attended the appointment expecting to comply with the requirements of her immigration process.

She had been attending hearings and check-ins with immigration authorities.

According to the family’s lawyer, Nikolas de Bremaeker, Leslie had complied with all conditions imposed on her.

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“They have no criminal history anywhere in the world and they were following all ICE check-ins and immigration hearings, but ICE ignored their rights during the process,” the attorney said.

He explained that although Leslie had a deportation order, she was complying with the conditions of an order of supervision.

According to the lawyer, that status should have prevented an immediate deportation.

Concerns for the child with a disability

 

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One of the greatest concerns of Leslie Rodríguez’s family after the deportation involves Joseph, the six-year-old who has a hearing disability.

The boy attended the California School for the Deaf Fremont located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

According to a relative identified as Marco, the child had been receiving specialized treatment in the United States.

The family says that when Joseph was deported he did not have his hearing aids with him.

“Because of the conditions they will face in Colombia, the risks they face there,” Marco said while explaining the family’s fears.

He added that the absence of those medical devices could seriously affect the child’s development.

“In Colombia there isn’t the same possibility of treatment, and here he was receiving therapy. Now that he’s been sent to Colombia, that development has been interrupted,” he said.

California leaders demand their return

The deportation of the family has triggered reactions from political leaders in California.

State officials have asked the administration of Donald Trump to allow the family to return to the United States.

Tony Thurmond expressed concern about the child’s situation.

“It is heartbreaking that Leslie Rodríguez Gutiérrez and her children were deported, especially a child who depends on hearing aids and other medical devices to survive, and that he was deported without those hearing aids,” he said.

The official also stated that there is uncertainty about the child’s current condition.

“As far as we know, he is without any kind of medical care. We do not know his whereabouts and we demand the immediate return of this child and his family,” he added.

Meanwhile, Leslie’s relatives remain worried about the conditions the mother and her two children may face in Colombia.

“Because of the situation they will be in there, the risks they face,” the relative repeated while referring to the family’s uncertain future after the deportation.