This isn’t what we think it is.
Criminal deportation is commonly understood in more urgent contexts. A person comes here, commits and crime and is deported as part of their hearing. Or maybe they are removed from a prison here and extradited there. But, current immigration law puts no statute of limitations on crimes committed. With a shocking lack of due process, people can be sent to third countries and mass prisons (like CECOT), even after serving time and making restitution.
Our trip to Mexico revealed many things obscured by headlines. We interviewed several migrants, many of them Cuban, deported to Mexico, effectively stateless. The US removed them, Cuba will not accept them. Many of them were sent with no identification or official documents. Locals report that busses come and drop groups of migrants into a local park and they are left there homeless and without resources with very few options. Many have applied for asylum, but that process can take two years or more.
Eduardo* came to the US when he was 18 years old. He committed a crime and served 10 years in prison. After rebuilding his life for the past 8 years; he got married, started a company, and had a child. He speaks fluent English, was educated in the US, and has spent his entire adult life here.
During a routine parole check-in, ICE came to his house. He is now in Tapachula, Mexico, after unimaginable loss and a terrifying journey, trapped Between Borders with no country to claim.
*name changed to protect identity
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