California mother with legal permission deported in under 24 hours

Despite having DACA status and applying for legal residency, Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez was swiftly removed from the U.S. after an immigration check-in appointment.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, a 42-year-old Sacramento resident who had spent 27 years in California, was deported to Mexico less than 24 hours after being arrested at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services appointment where she was applying for legal permanent residency. Estrada Juarez had DACA status and had previously been granted permission to re-enter the country, but immigration agents cited an expedited removal order from 1998 that she says she was unaware of.

Why it matters

Estrada Juarez's swift deportation despite her legal status and lack of criminal record highlights the Trump administration's aggressive crackdown on immigrants, including those following established legal pathways to remain in the U.S. Her case raises concerns about due process and the treatment of DACA recipients, who were previously shielded from deportation.

The details

At her immigration appointment, Estrada Juarez presented documentation of her 27 years in California, including a high school diploma, tax filings, and paperwork showing she had repeatedly obtained federal permission to remain in the country. However, immigration agents cited an expedited removal order from 1998 when she was 15 years old, which she says she was unaware of. Less than an hour after the appointment began, Estrada Juarez was arrested and deported to Mexico by the next morning.

  • On July 4, 1998, Estrada Juarez allegedly entered the U.S. alone at age 15 and was issued an expedited removal order.
  • In 2014, Estrada Juarez was granted DACA status.
  • In 2014, Estrada Juarez obtained advance parole to visit her mother in Mexico for 3 weeks before returning to the U.S.
  • In April 2025, Estrada Juarez applied for legal permanent residency.
  • On February 22, 2026, Estrada Juarez was arrested and deported to Mexico less than 24 hours after her immigration appointment.

The players

Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez

A 42-year-old Sacramento resident who had lived in California for 27 years, was a recipient of DACA, and was applying for legal permanent residency when she was arrested and deported.

Damaris Bello

Estrada Juarez's 21-year-old daughter who accompanied her to the immigration appointment.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President whose administration has taken an aggressive stance on immigration, including efforts to end DACA.

Kevin Johnson

The former dean of UC Davis' School of Law and a legal expert on immigration law, who called Estrada Juarez's swift deportation "unusual" and likely grounds for a legal challenge.

Brian Lopez

A Sacramento immigration attorney who said Estrada Juarez's case highlights how expedited removal orders can be issued without an immigrant's knowledge.

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What they’re saying

“Basically, my life was ended. I have to reinvent myself in a country that, even though it's mine, I don't know.”

— Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez (The Sacramento Bee)

“We tried to do things the right way.”

— Damaris Bello, Estrada Juarez's daughter (The Sacramento Bee)

“This is mandatory by a clear and unambiguous reading of the regulations.”

— Brian Lopez, Immigration attorney (The Sacramento Bee)

“It sounds like this poor woman was basically railroaded out of the country in the dead of night with barely a whimper.”

— Kevin Johnson, Former dean, UC Davis School of Law (The Sacramento Bee)

“DACA is yet another example in which the Trump administration is quite clear that they're not only concerned about people who are violating immigration law. They're concerned about migrants, generally.”

— César Cuauthémoc García Hernández, Immigration law professor, Ohio State University (The Sacramento Bee)

What’s next

The judge in Estrada Juarez's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow her to return to the U.S. pending further legal proceedings.

The takeaway

This case highlights the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, even against individuals like Estrada Juarez who were following legal pathways to residency and had no criminal record. It raises concerns about due process and the treatment of DACA recipients, underscoring the need for comprehensive immigration reform to protect vulnerable immigrant communities.