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Wife of former Marine returns to Mexico after efforts to stop her deportation fail

Posted at 7:10 AM, Aug 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-05 07:10:11-04

US Rep. Darren Soto with Alejandra Juarez, a mother and veteran’s wife who was deported on August 3. (CNN)

The wife of a former US Marine tearfully said goodbye to loved ones Friday before she boarded a flight to Mexico, ending her battle to fight deportation.

Alejandra Juarez, who lived in the Orlando area, left the United States, said Ernesto Juarez, her brother-in-law. He had no further comment.

US Rep. Darren Soto, a Florida Democrat who represents the district where the woman lived, had introduced legislationto stop her deportation.

Supporters sent letters to President Donald Trump and government agencies asking for a stay of removal, Soto said.

“If the president really claims to support veterans, he should stand with the Juarez family and reconsider Alejandra’s deportation,” Soto said in a statement. “While Mr. Juarez was abroad fighting to defend our country, Mrs. Juarez was at home raising his daughters, serving in the same manner as military spouses do across our nation.”

The Davenport resident has no criminal record but faced a removal order over her 1998 illegal entry into the United States, Soto said. She’s married to a former Marine and Iraq War veteran, and they have two girls, ages 8 and 16, who are US citizens.

Soto had sought a stay of removal for Juarez under the parole in place program. The option, which US Citizenship and Immigration Services says is granted on a case-by-case basis, allows members of the armed forces, veterans, enlisteesand their families to stay in the United States.

In a statement, ICE spokesman Bryan Cox said Juarez was initially apprehended and removed from the country after attempting to enter illegally from Mexico in 1998. He said she later illegally reentered the United States after being removed – which is considered a felony under federal law.

ICE arrested her in August 2013 and notified her that the earlier removal order was being reinstated, according to the statement.

“ICE subsequently exercised temporary discretion by releasing her on an order of supervision and granted her temporary stays of removal in August 2015 and August 2016,” the statement said. “At this time, Juarez must comply with her removal order and depart the US.”

Soto said he’s disappointed by the decision to reject her stay of removal.

“Our local community has stood with the Juarez family during this traumatizing experience, from schoolteachers to church members and supportive neighbors. It is a sad day for our entire community as we will all be affected by this insensitive deportation order,” he said.