A family from Chula Vista, California, has left the United States due to fear of immigration raids. On February 7, the family of five packed their belongings and moved to Mexico, worried about the recent enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Living in Fear
Anna, a 29-year-old member of the family, said they were too afraid to even leave their apartment before deciding to leave the U.S.
“We were constantly anxious,” she told ABC News. “It got to the point where we couldn’t eat or sleep.”
Their fears grew after President Donald Trump’s administration increased immigration enforcement. Between January 22 and January 31, ICE arrested over 8,200 people and issued detainers for more than 6,500 others, signaling a nationwide crackdown.
Trump has also introduced strict immigration policies, including efforts to end birthright citizenship and declaring a national emergency at the southern border.
Their Immigration Journey
Anna’s parents moved to San Diego from Mexico in 1997. Her father originally had an E-2 visa sponsored by a restaurant, but when the business closed, the family could not renew their visa. They stayed in the U.S. despite their legal status expiring.
Anna, who is a “Dreamer” under the DACA program, has some protection from deportation. However, her parents do not have a clear path to citizenship. Her younger sisters, ages 20 and 17, were born in the U.S. and are citizens.
“My biggest fear was my parents getting caught in an ICE raid while doing something as simple as walking to the store,” Anna said.
Since her parents had no legal way to become U.S. citizens, the family decided the safest option was to leave and apply for legal status from outside the country.
Starting Over in Mexico
Leaving the U.S. after living there for nearly 30 years was difficult for Anna.
“My whole life was in San Diego. It felt like the ground was pulled from under us,” she said.
She also expressed frustration that despite following legal procedures, her family still struggled to gain permanent status.
“We entered the country legally and paid thousands of dollars trying to stay. If the system allowed a realistic pathway to citizenship, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Currently, the family is staying with a friend near Ensenada, Mexico, and hopes to move to Mexico City. However, they are struggling with limited funds and no jobs.
When asked about their future, Anna said, “It’s unclear, like looking through soapy water. We know something is there, but we don’t know how to reach it.”
