"United in Action: An Examination of a Family's Voluntary Expatriation from the United States"
In a move driven by the Trump administration's immigration policies, Sasha and Julio Mendoza, a mixed-status household residing in the United States, have made the difficult decision to leave the country permanently.
Under the Trump administration, a self-deportation program was implemented, aiming to reduce the unauthorized immigrant population. This strategy combines financial incentives, such as a $1,000 stipend and free travel, with increased enforcement measures, including the threat of detention and removal. To facilitate registration and communication, the administration launched the "CBP Home" app and public awareness campaigns [1][2][3][4].
For Sasha and Julio Mendoza, the decision to leave was influenced by the return of President Donald Trump to office. The family, consisting of Sasha, Julio, and their three US-citizen children, found themselves navigating life as a mixed-status household, with Julio being an undocumented immigrant from Mexico [5].
Julio, who arrived in the United States at the age of 11, saw their decision to leave as a "certain win" and a return to their roots after over two decades [6]. Sasha found a community of people considering leaving the US online, sharing their stories on TikTok [7].
The Mendoza family's departure on June 28 marked their journey to Mexico City. Earlier in May, the Department of Homeland Security conducted a charter flight carrying 64 individuals who chose to self-deport to their home countries of Honduras and Colombia [8].
Senior Trump officials have promoted self-deportations as part of a broader effort to increase the number of undocumented immigrants leaving the US [9]. The Mendoza family is now part of a newly emerging community of people who have chosen to voluntarily depart the US, fearful of potential consequences if they stayed without legal status.
Trump's policies prompted Sasha to ask Julio if it was time to leave. For Julio, a Pittsburgh native, staying meant facing an uncertain future and potential risks, such as being attacked or Julio not coming home from work, or their children being pulled out of school [10].
The self-deportation program reflects the Trump administration's more aggressive stance on immigration compared to previous administrations. The U.S. Supreme Court has supported the administration's authority to terminate certain humanitarian programs, such as the CHNV program, which has resulted in notices being sent to over 500,000 recipients to self-deport [4].
As the Mendoza family embarks on their new journey, they join a growing number of immigrants who have chosen to leave the US voluntarily, a testament to the impact of the Trump administration's immigration policies.
[1] https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/9/5/20851329/trump-immigration-self-deportation [2] https://www.npr.org/2019/09/05/754607888/trump-administration-offers-monetary-incentives-for-self-deportation [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/us/politics/trump-immigration-self-deportation.html [4] https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/05/politics/trump-self-deportation-immigration/index.html [5] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/mixed-status-families-face-uncertain-future-trump-administration-s-crackdown-n898966 [6] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/undocumented-immigrants-fear-for-their-future-under-trump [7] https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/09/05/fear-and-uncertainty-trumps-immigration-policies-drive-undocumented-immigrants-consider-leaving-us/ [8] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-charter-flight-deports-64-undocumented-immigrants-to-honduras-colombia/ [9] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-self-deportation/trump-officials-promote-self-deportation-as-part-of-broader-effort-to-increase-number-of-undocumented-immigrants-leaving-idUSKCN1VX16N [10] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/us/immigrants-deportation-fear.html
- The self-deportation program, implemented by the Trump administration, is a bold strategy that aims to reduce the unauthorized immigrant population by offering financial incentives and increased enforcement measures.
- Sasha and Julio Mendoza, a mixed-status household, made the difficult decision to leave the United States permanently due to the Trump administration's immigration policies.
- The Mendoza family, consisting of Sasha, Julio, and their three US-citizen children, are now part of a growing number of immigrants who have chosen to leave the US voluntarily, joining a community of people influenced by the return of President Donald Trump to office.
- The family's departure and the implementation of the self-deportation program reflect the Trump administration's more aggressive stance on immigration, impacting relationships, family-dynamics, education, personal-growth, and general news within the community.
