A judge has approved the deportation of an 11-year-old girl, Mia Sanchez, back to El Salvador after she reportedly missed a court hearing last month. This troubling decision means that Mia could be sent back to the dangerous environment her family fled from, and she would have to face it all alone, without her mother and sister.
Mia’s mother, Clara, escaped El Salvador with Mia and her older sister, Sofia, due to severe gang violence that had already claimed the lives of family members. Clara’s family had been targeted after one of them testified in court about a murder, leading to threats against their lives. “That’s when my mom decided we had to go to the United States,” Mia shared with the Houston Chronicle. The family was detained at the U.S.-Mexico border on October 5, 2018, but was released to seek asylum. Since November, they have regularly checked in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
During a recent immigration court appearance, tragedy struck when Mia was issued a deportation order, while her mother and sister stayed behind, highlighting the heartbreaking nature of separating a child from her family. The distress of being sent back alone to the violent conditions they had escaped is unimaginable.
Mia’s attorney, Laura Bennett, attributes the missed court appearance to a communication breakdown, possibly due to issues with a court translator. Bennett has formally requested the court to reconsider the case. The family’s original court date was postponed due to a government shutdown, and when they appeared on the rescheduled date, they were informed by an interpreter that Mia’s name was not on the docket. A subsequent letter, which the family could not understand due to the language barrier, turned out to be a notification of Mia’s deportation.
In a shocking turn of events, Judge Iris Thompson from the Houston Immigration Court deemed Mia “not present” at the March hearing, despite the circumstances surrounding the missed court date. “The Respondent has abandoned any and all forms of relief from removal,” the order stated, showing a blatant disregard for the complexities of the case.
In a poignant moment captured during a press briefing, Mia fought back tears as she expressed, “I feel bad because I don’t want to be separated from my family. I don’t want to be taken away from my mom.” The family, legal representation, and advocacy groups such as Immigrant Families and Students in the Struggle are fervently working to rectify this situation and ensure that Mia can remain with her family while they fight for asylum. “I hope the judge can see it was a clear mistake on behalf of the court,” Bennett stated, emphasizing the systemic issues within an overburdened court system.
The importance of family unity cannot be overstated, and it’s crucial that cases like Mia’s are handled with care and compassion. Families should never be torn apart due to bureaucratic errors. For those exploring family planning options, it can be helpful to check out this resource on fertility treatments.
In summary, the case of Mia Sanchez exemplifies the dire circumstances faced by many families seeking asylum in the U.S. It is a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring that children are not separated from their families, especially in such perilous situations.