Despite efforts from U.S. Rep. Darren Soto and a team of immigration lawyers, last Friday, Alejandra Juárez volunteered to deport herself back to Mexico after a long fight to remain in Florida with her family, all of whom are U.S. citizens.
The wife of a former U.S. Marine who served in Iraq, Juárez’s removal order stems from her original 1998 illegal entry into the United States, and is convoluted by the fact she didn’t have a translator present to explain her immigration paperwork. Read our longer piece on this story here.
The 39-year-old Juárez has no criminal record, and now must build a new life in Mexico where she has no family or connections.
As of now, the fundraiser has raised more than $26,000, and will go towards efforts to keep the family together. Juárez is taking her 9-year-old daughter with her to Mexico, while her 16-year-old daughter is staying in the U.S. with her father to finish high school.
Stay on top of Orlando news and views. Sign up for our weekly Headlines newsletter.
Related Stories
This article appears in Aug 1-7, 2018.
