One Deportee's Story

Mario and his wife once lived a quiet, peaceful life in Guatemala, running a small restaurant that sustained their family of six. But their lives were shattered when they became victims of ruthless organized crime.

The local criminals demanded a monthly “protection fee,” and as the payments increased beyond their means, threats turned into violence. (This is a familiar story that we have heard from many of the migrants we’ve helped over the last seven years.)

Their nightmare became reality when men hacked Mario’s wife with a machete, leaving her with a brutal arm wound, while another attacked their son, stabbing him in the back. Terrified and wounded, the family fled everything they knew—running from violence toward an uncertain future.

Their journey took them to the US-Mexico border. After months of waiting, they finally secured an appointment using the CBP One app, and in December 2023, they crossed into the United States, hopeful for safety and a new chance. Settling in Southern California, they filed for asylum. Mario traveled to Ohio for construction work, and they began the process of rebuilding their shattered lives.

But life kept testing them. In late summer 2024, while Mario was traveling from Ohio to California to visit his family, tragedy struck again. ICE agents boarded the bus he was on in Albuquerque and, despite having all his legal documentation—court dates, asylum papers, everything on his phone--he was detained, held for a week, and then deported back to Guatemala.

Determined to reunite with his family, Mario made the perilous journey back to Nogales, Sonora, this time having to resort to crossing the desert. Instead, he was betrayed by his smugglers, who held him captive for two months in a rural house, demanding a $9,000 ransom from his sons in the US. When they finally paid, Mario was released and managed to reach the Kino Border Initiative shelter, where he stayed until we connected with him.

Now, at 58 and battling health issues, Mario faces an uphill struggle. He’s applied for refugee status in Mexico, but this will take some time. And although he wants to be with his family, after all that has happened, he is no longer willing to try to cross again. 

Meanwhile, in the US, his family has followed the legal process by applying for asylum, with a court date set. Yet, recent events have made it painfully clear that doing everything by the book no longer guarantees safety or fairness with this new administration.

Lastly, many of you may not know, but ageism in employment exists in Mexico. While older adults are generally respected, it can be difficult for them to find stable work or remain employed as they age. Often, their younger family members help support them, as older people frequently can only find work doing informal jobs—such as bagging groceries—working for tips rather than wages.

Mario’s story is a reminder of the resilience and courage of those fleeing violence, as well as the heartbreak of families torn apart by circumstances beyond their control. As he begins the process of rebuilding his life alone in Mexico, your support helps us continue to assist him and others like him—people who are forced to create new lives in unfamiliar and often challenging circumstances.