California couple deported after 35 years in the US. Three daughters stunned

Decades of Roots Uprooted: California Family Shattered by Deportation-

A quiet suburban life, built over 35 years in the sun-drenched hills of Laguna Niguel, has been abruptly shattered for the Gonzales family. Gladys Gonzales, 55, and her husband, Nelson Gonzalez, 59, were deported to their native Colombia on March 18th, leaving their three American-born daughters reeling from a devastating loss.Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez came to the U.S. during a period of sustained violence and terrorism in Colombia, as the government fought a two-front war against drug cartels and left-wing guerillas.

According to ICE, Nelson Gonzalez filed for asylum in 1992 but his case was closed in 1998 after he "failed to attend an interview.”

The agency said that both Gonzalezes agreed to leave the country voluntarily in 2000, but then sought a legal way to remain through various courts and appeals processes over the next 21 years, until finally "exhaust[ing] all legal options" in August 2021.

In a post on GoFundMe, the couple's three adult daughters — who are reportedly all U.S. citizens — said their parents never broke the law after arriving in the U.S. or missed an appointment with immigration authorities.

Remaining in the U.S. without authorization is a civil infraction, not a crime, whereas crossing the border without authorization is a criminal misdemeanor.

The couple's journey in the United States began over three decades ago, and they had established deep roots in their community. Their daughters, all U.S. citizens, grew up in the family home, attended local schools, and built their own lives in Southern California. The Gonzales' routine check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 21st, however, turned their world upside down.

"It was just a regular appointment," recounted their eldest daughter, visibly shaken. "They've been doing these check-ins for years. We never imagined they wouldn't come home."

Instead, Gladys and Nelson were detained, their decades-long presence in the U.S. suddenly deemed untenable. The family endured three and a half weeks of agonizing uncertainty before the final deportation order was executed.

The daughters are now grappling with the sudden absence of their parents, the emotional trauma compounded by the logistical complexities of navigating their parents' affairs from thousands of miles away. "It's not just the emotional pain," explained one daughter. "It's the practical things. Who will take care of their house? Their belongings? How do we even begin to help them start over in a country they haven't lived in for most of their lives?"

The case highlights the often-harsh realities of U.S. immigration policies, particularly for those who have lived in the country for extended periods. While the details of the Gonzales' initial entry and subsequent legal status remain unclear, their story underscores the human cost of immigration enforcement, where decades of community ties and family bonds can be severed in a single day.

"They are not criminals," a neighbor, who preferred to remain anonymous, said. "They are good people, hard-working, and loving parents. To see them treated this way is heartbreaking."

The daughters are now facing the daunting task of rebuilding their family, attempting to maintain contact and provide support from a distance. They are also left with the lingering question of how a system could so abruptly dismantle a family that had become an integral part of their community.

The case has ignited a renewed debate about the balance between enforcing immigration laws and considering the human impact on families and communities. As the Gonzales daughters attempt to piece together their lives, their story serves as a stark reminder of the often-unseen consequences of immigration policies, the ripple effects that extend far beyond statistics and legal documents, and the human cost of uprooting lives that have been embedded in American soil for generations.