A Family’s Heart-Wrenching Decision: Leaving the United States Out of Fear
Fear and uncertainty have gripped millions of immigrant families in the United States, and one California family has made the difficult decision to leave the country they have called home for decades. The family of five, who hail from Chula Vista, California, packed their belongings and departed the U.S. on February 7, driven by the growing threat of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Their story is a poignant reminder of the human cost of the ongoing immigration crackdown under the Trump administration. In an interview with ABC News affiliate KGTV, Anna, a 29-year-old daughter, shared the family’s struggles, revealing a life lived in constant fear and anxiety.
A Life Lived in Fear and Anxiety
Anna described how the family’s fear of ICE raids had taken a toll on their daily lives. “We were in constant fear and anxiety,” she explained. “It got to a point where we couldn’t eat or sleep.” The family’s anxiety intensified amid President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, which have led to thousands of deportations across the country since his inauguration. ICE reported that between January 22 and January 31, the agency arrested 8,276 people and issued 6,577 “detainers lodged” — a term used to describe individuals arrested on suspicion of being deportable. Anna’s family felt they had no choice but to leave the U.S. to escape the ever-present threat of separation and deportation.
A Family’s History: From Mexico to America and Back Again
Anna’s family immigrated to the United States from Mexico in 1997, when she was just a child. Her father initially came to the U.S. on an E-2 visa, which allowed him to work at a restaurant. However, when the restaurant’s investors and shareholders dismantled the business, the family found themselves unable to renew their visa. Despite their legal struggles, the family decided to remain in San Diego, hoping to build a better life for themselves and their children. Over the years, Anna and her siblings grew up in the U.S., with her two younger sisters even being born in the country, granting them citizenship. Anna, classified as a “Dreamer” under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, had always believed that following the rules and pursuing legal pathways would eventually lead to citizenship. Yet, under the Trump administration, that pathway became increasingly difficult to navigate.
TheTrump Administration’s Hardline Immigration Policies
President Trump’s inauguration marked the beginning of a new era of immigration enforcement, characterized by strict crackdowns, mass deportations, and a rhetoric of fear. In his inaugural address, Trump vowed to halt all illegal immigration and begin the process of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants. His administration has implemented several executive orders aimed at tightening immigration controls, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border and ending birthright citizenship. These policies have created an atmosphere of dread for families like Anna’s, who fear that even minor interactions with ICE could result in their separation. Anna expressed her concerns about her parents being caught in an ICE raid while going about their daily lives, such as her father being picked up at work or her mother while walking to the corner store.
Leaving Behind the Only Home They’ve Known
The decision to leave the U.S. was not an easy one for Anna’s family. For Anna, the United States had been her home for nearly 30 years, and the thought of leaving felt surreal. “It felt like I had nowhere to turn,” she said. The family’s departure was a painful reminder of the fragility of their situation and the unattainable promise of a pathway to citizenship. Anna expressed frustration at the system, noting that her family had followed the legal procedures and paid thousands of dollars in fees to stay in the U.S., yet they were still forced to leave. “If the laws were realistic for people to actually have a pathway toward citizenship, we wouldn’t have to go through this,” she said. The family is currently staying with friends near Ensenada, Mexico, while they work to make their way to Mexico City, a journey made more difficult by limited funds and no employment prospects.
An Uncertain Future and a Lesson in Resilience
Anna admitted that the family’s future is uncertain, likening it to “looking in soapy water” — something is there, but the path forward is unclear. The family is currently focused on settling into their new life in Mexico, but the transition has been challenging. They have chosen to keep their full identities hidden for safety reasons, a precaution that underscores the ongoing fear and vulnerability they feel. Despite the difficulties, Anna remains determined to find a way forward, even as she grieves the loss of the life they built in the U.S. Her family’s story is a powerful testament to the resilience of immigrants and the human cost of policies that prioritize enforcement over compassion. As they navigate this new chapter, Anna and her family hold onto the hope that one day, they will find a place where they can live without fear and build a stable future.
