By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, US residents since 1989, were unexpectedly arrested and deported to Colombia after a routine immigration check-in. Despite decades of community involvement and attempts to legalize their status, they were deemed to have exhausted all legal options following a 2000 voluntary departure order, which they believed could lead to citizenship. Their deportation, after three weeks in detention, highlights the increasing strictness of current US immigration policies and the vulnerability of long-term undocumented immigrants, even those with clean records. The family is now working to rebuild their lives in Colombia, facing a ten-year bar from returning to the US.
Read the original article here
The story of Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, deported to Colombia after 35 years in the US and raising three American-citizen children, is heartbreaking and raises many questions about immigration policy and the human cost of enforcement. Their deportation wasn’t a sudden event; an immigration court ruled against their asylum claim in 2000, issuing a voluntary departure order. This gave them time to leave the country, avoiding a forced deportation.
This initial order, however, was seemingly misinterpreted by their lawyer at the time. They were incorrectly advised that the order could be appealed, delaying their departure and creating years of uncertainty. Even with this misunderstanding, the situation remained unresolved for almost two decades. It wasn’t until 2018 that the deportation officer finally insisted they leave the country. This lengthy timeline significantly complicates the situation, prompting questions about the effectiveness of the immigration system and the resources available to immigrants facing deportation.
The Gonzalezes’ entry into the US in 1989 was unauthorized. They arrived without visas, seeking asylum due to the dangerous conditions in their native Colombia. Their asylum application, however, was unsuccessful. The legality of their subsequent employment for 30 years in the US is a key point of contention. While they were granted temporary Social Security numbers and work permits during their asylum application process, this doesn’t fully explain how they maintained employment for so long without a proper immigration status. This aspect of their situation highlights the complexities of the American immigration system and the potential loopholes or gray areas that might enable long-term unauthorized work.
Many argue that the Gonzalezes should have taken action sooner to legalize their status. They had ample time, over 20 years after the initial order, to appeal or seek other avenues of legalization. The difficulties involved in navigating the immigration system, however, cannot be ignored. The process is complex, expensive, and often involves significant hurdles for those lacking legal expertise. The fact that the family had three US-citizen children should have raised the possibility of seeking citizenship through them; and yet, it is not clear why this wasn’t pursued, and the family’s reasons remain unknown.
There’s a great deal of sympathy for the Gonzalez children who are now separated from their parents. The children’s plea to have their parents return is undoubtedly emotionally charged and underscores the human cost of strict immigration enforcement. However, others argue that the law must be upheld, emphasizing the fact that the family was given ample warning to leave, chose not to, and now must face the consequences. This highlights the broader debate about immigration policy and the balance between upholding laws and considering humanitarian factors. The long duration of their stay, coupled with the official notice of their undocumented status, makes a simple “humanitarian” approach difficult.
The case also highlights the frustrations of the immigration process itself. It points to the possibility of delays, misinformation, and the considerable financial burden on individuals seeking to obtain legal immigration status, particularly for those with limited legal knowledge and resources. The considerable amount of time and resources needed for the process, alongside the complicated nature of the system, is something that needs addressing.
This situation evokes many thoughts and opinions. While some view the deportation as a fair consequence of breaking immigration laws and failing to address their legal status for decades, others emphasize the long-term residence, tax payments, community contributions, and the emotional cost of separating a family.
The story of the Gonzalezes offers a complex illustration of the multifaceted nature of immigration, balancing legal principles with the very real human consequences of enforcement. It’s a story that will undoubtedly continue to fuel debate and highlight the need for more comprehensive immigration solutions. The lack of a clear path towards citizenship and the difficulties faced in navigating this complex process, alongside the legal and financial challenges involved, raises important questions that deserve consideration. This case brings to light the many challenges families face in the system. It also raises the issue of how effective our legal system is in supporting those seeking to navigate the immigration process.