In brief
Janie Pérez shares the emotional journey of moving 1,500 miles to reunite with her deported husband, Alejandro, in Mexico. Following Alejandro's arrest by ICE, Janie and their two daughters decided to leave their life in the US behind. Despite language barriers and cultural adjustments, Janie emphasizes the importance of family togetherness even amidst hardship.
Submitted by Janie PérezJanie Pérez found it strange that her husband called her just a few minutes after leaving the house on his way to work.
When she picked up the phone, she learned why. I think ICE is here, her husband, Alejandro Pérez, said, referring to agents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
We started praying, Janie recalls, while in the background she heard the immigration agents arresting him. At that moment, Janie understood her life would change forever. She did not imagine she would end up living in Mexico with her husband and their two young daughters.
The American woman, who does not speak Spanish, admits it's been difficult to start from scratch in an unfamiliar country. She does not regret the move, however. There is nothing more important than being together.
Official estimates suggest 1.1 million US citizens are married to an undocumented person.
Despite the marital bond, undocumented foreigners face challenges in obtaining permanent residence - or a green card - through marriage, due to their initial unlawful entry into the country.
Since returning to office, former President Trump has confirmed his stance on a crackdown against illegal immigration, intensifying fears among mixed-status families.
But for couples like Alejandro and Janie Pérez, the choice between family unity and life in America poses a heart-wrenching dilemma.
