Amid heightened deportation fears under the Trump administration, Venezuelan mother Yessica Rojas left Missouri with her children, motivated by distressing reports of parents being separated from their kids upon deportation.
Venezuelan Mother Leaves U.S. Fearing for Her Children Amid Deportation Fears
Venezuelan Mother Leaves U.S. Fearing for Her Children Amid Deportation Fears
Yessica Rojas, a Venezuelan immigrant, made the difficult decision to return to South America after seeing alarming stories of deported mothers.
In recent months, Yessica Rojas faced a heart-wrenching decision as a Venezuelan mother trying to establish a better life for her two children in the United States. After less than two years in Missouri, Rojas decided to leave, driven by stories circulating on social media about fellow Venezuelan mothers who had faced devastating outcomes, including deportation while their children were placed in foster care.
Rojas, 29, heard tales of families torn apart, exemplified by a harrowing case of a two-year-old girl named Antonella who was sent to foster care while both her parents were deported—her mother to Venezuela and her father to a prison in El Salvador. Fortunately, Antonella has since been reunited with her family, but the impact of such stories on the immigrant community was stark.
"I realized it just isn’t worth it now," Rojas stated, explaining the painful decision to leave the U.S. when she felt her children's safety was at risk. Her departure from Branson, Missouri coincided with a wave of fear rippling through immigrant families, prompting some parents to abandon their hopes for a life in the United States, despite previous legal entitlements.
The current U.S. administration’s rhetoric, blended with financial incentives such as a $1,000 offer for those choosing to "self-deport," has increasingly influenced immigrant choices. Data remains limited on the exact number of families choosing to leave; however, reports indicate that flights returning migrants to Colombia and Honduras have been organized by the government, suggesting a trend of individuals opting to return home.
As immigrant communities grapple with these harsh realities, the experiences of mothers like Yessica Rojas shine a light on the profound impact of U.S. immigration policies on vulnerable families, fundamentally reshaping their aspirations for safety and stability in the country.
Rojas, 29, heard tales of families torn apart, exemplified by a harrowing case of a two-year-old girl named Antonella who was sent to foster care while both her parents were deported—her mother to Venezuela and her father to a prison in El Salvador. Fortunately, Antonella has since been reunited with her family, but the impact of such stories on the immigrant community was stark.
"I realized it just isn’t worth it now," Rojas stated, explaining the painful decision to leave the U.S. when she felt her children's safety was at risk. Her departure from Branson, Missouri coincided with a wave of fear rippling through immigrant families, prompting some parents to abandon their hopes for a life in the United States, despite previous legal entitlements.
The current U.S. administration’s rhetoric, blended with financial incentives such as a $1,000 offer for those choosing to "self-deport," has increasingly influenced immigrant choices. Data remains limited on the exact number of families choosing to leave; however, reports indicate that flights returning migrants to Colombia and Honduras have been organized by the government, suggesting a trend of individuals opting to return home.
As immigrant communities grapple with these harsh realities, the experiences of mothers like Yessica Rojas shine a light on the profound impact of U.S. immigration policies on vulnerable families, fundamentally reshaping their aspirations for safety and stability in the country.
