DACA recipient deported at green card interview, federal judge orders return and reinstatement
May 22, 2026·Location: Sacramento, CA
Country of origin: Mexico
Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, a 42-year-old DACA recipient who had lived in the United States for 27 years after arriving in 1998 at age 15, was arrested and deported to Mexico on February 18, 2025, during a green card interview at a USCIS office in Sacramento, California. Immigration agents cited a 1998 expedited removal order from her initial border crossing, despite her valid DACA status, lack of criminal history, and previous federal approvals to remain in the country. She was removed within 24 hours. Following a lawsuit by her attorneys, U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins issued a temporary restraining order on March 23, 2025, ruling the deportation a "flagrant violation" of her DACA protections and due process rights. Estrada Juarez was granted humanitarian parole and reentered the United States on March 30, 2025, at the San Ysidro border crossing, where she was reunited with her daughter.
Timeline
Sources
- California woman returns home after the Trump administration deported her to Mexico
Associated Press·Apr 1, 2026·archived copy
seattlepi.com·Apr 1, 2026·archived copy
- From deportation to court, key events in Kilmar Abrego Garcia's fight with the Trump administration
Associated Press·Apr 7, 2026·archived copy
- Sacramento Bee
- usnews.com
- California Mother Returns Home Weeks After Deportation Despite DACA Protections
latintimes.com·Apr 1, 2026·archived copy
- California mother with legal permission to live in US deported in under 24 hours
- Sacramento mother advocates for Dream Act after being deported despite being a DACA recipient
KCRA·Mar 7, 2026·archived copy
- Sacramento Bee
- Deported from the only home she knew, a DACA recipient fights her way back to the US
- Picking Up the Pieces After Mom’s Deportation
thecut.com·Apr 1, 2026·archived copy
- Judge Orders Trump to Bring Back Deported DACA Mom ASAP
newrepublic.com·Mar 24, 2026·archived copy
- Seattle Times
- fresnobee.com
- Judge orders Trump administration to bring back DACA mom deported to Mexico
independent.co.uk·Mar 24, 2026·archived copy
- A Woman Was in the US Legally. She Was Deported Anyway
wired.com·May 15, 2026·archived copy
- The story of a 'Dreamer' who was wrongfully deported and has now returned to the U.S.
KUNC·Apr 4, 2026·archived copy
- CourtListener
- allarts.org
- Protected but deported anyway, as Trump goes after ‘dreamers’
straitstimes.com·Jul 13, 2026·archived copy
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