A Mother's Dilemma: Leaving Everything Behind Amid Fear of Deportation

Faced with fear and uncertainty, Yessica Rojas chose to leave her life in Missouri, influenced by alarming stories within her immigrant community. After hearing tales of detained mothers who lost custody of their children, she decided that the risk was too great for her and her kids.

 

In a bold move inspired by desperation, Yessica Rojas, a 29-year-old Venezuelan mother, recently made the heart-wrenching decision to leave Missouri with her two children, Yessiel and Kenyerly. This choice was driven by her alarm over reports circulating in her community that depicted harrowing tales of mothers like her being deported back to Venezuela, leaving their children in the care of the state. With a surge in these distressing stories, including a recent case of a 2-year-old Venezuelan girl, Antonella, who was placed in foster care while her mother was sent back to her home country, Rojas felt she had no choice but to act.

"The fear became too overwhelming," Rojas expressed, noting how the narratives around her echoed deeply within her. This sense of urgency prompted her to leave the U.S., fearing for the future of her children under the uncertain and treacherous conditions of immigration enforcement. While she had hoped for a better life in America, the risks associated with remaining had proven too severe.

The impacts of these stories resonate far beyond Rojas’s individual experience. They represent a growing sentiment among immigrant families who are weighing their options under the harsh realities of U.S. immigration policies. Many are reportedly returning to South America, influenced by unsettling news and fear of family separations, despite potential opportunities that may lie ahead in the U.S. For Rojas, the decision to depart Branson, Missouri, was made in early spring as part of a larger trend pushed by tales of forced family separation.

While it remains unclear how many have chosen to leave amidst growing enforcement actions, reports indicate that flights departing to countries like Colombia and Honduras have increased as families seek safety and security. Rojas’s story captures a poignant moment in the ongoing narrative of immigration and evictions faced by countless families, who continue to grapple with the sacrifices made in search of a better future.