California Woman Deported to Mexico Reunited with Daughter After Judge's Order

Maria de Jesús Estrada Juárez was among DACA recipients arrested by ICE during Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:18am

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A California woman who had been living in the U.S. for 27 years before the Trump administration deported her to Mexico in February was reunited with her daughter this week after a judge ordered her return. Maria de Jesús Estrada Juárez, a Mexican citizen, was among the hundreds of thousands of people shielded from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Why it matters

Estrada Juárez's case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by DACA recipients, often referred to as 'Dreamers,' who remain vulnerable to deportation despite the protections offered by the program. Immigration advocates say her removal underscores the need for more permanent legal status for DACA recipients.

The details

Estrada Juárez was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and deported on February 18, just a day after showing up for an immigration hearing. Her lawyer argues the 1998 removal order used to justify her deportation was not final. U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins, a Biden appointee, issued a temporary restraining order on March 23, giving the federal government seven days to facilitate Estrada Juárez's return to the U.S., ruling that her deportation was a 'flagrant violation' of her DACA protections.

  • Estrada Juárez was deported on February 18, 2026.
  • On March 23, 2026, a judge issued a temporary restraining order giving the federal government seven days to return Estrada Juárez to the U.S.

The players

Maria de Jesús Estrada Juárez

A 42-year-old Mexican citizen who had been living in the U.S. for 27 years and was shielded from deportation under the DACA program before being deported in February 2026.

Damaris Bello

Estrada Juárez's 22-year-old daughter, who was reunited with her mother after the judge's order.

Dena Coggins

A U.S. District Judge appointed by President Joe Biden who issued a temporary restraining order to facilitate Estrada Juárez's return to the U.S.

Talia Inlender

The deputy director of the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at the UCLA School of Law, who commented on the rarity of a judge ordering a person's return after deportation.

Stacy Tolchin

An immigration attorney based in Pasadena, California, who argued that DACA grants recipients a 'vested right to not be deported.'

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What they’re saying

“'I didn't get to say goodbye. It all happened so fast. This has been one of the most painful experiences of my life.'”

— Maria de Jesús Estrada Juárez

“'It's hard to describe what it feels like to lose your mother so suddenly, especially when you believed she was safe. It was like grieving someone who was still alive.'”

— Damaris Bello, Estrada Juárez's 22-year-old daughter

“'DACA gives you a vested right to not be deported once it's granted. I really don't understand what they're doing.'”

— Stacy Tolchin, Immigration attorney

What’s next

The federal government has seven days to facilitate Estrada Juárez's return to the U.S. after the judge's temporary restraining order.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing vulnerability of DACA recipients to deportation, despite the protections offered by the program. It underscores the need for more permanent legal status and due process safeguards for Dreamers to prevent such sudden and disruptive removals from their homes and families.