California Couple Deported After 35 Years in U.S., Sparking Criticism of Immigration Policies

Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez, who had no criminal records, were deported to Colombia following their detention during a routine ICE check-in, highlighting intensified enforcement efforts.

Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez, who entered the U.S. in 1989 and lived in California for 35 years, were deported to Colombia on March 18, 2025.
The couple, who had no criminal history, had exhausted all legal avenues to remain in the U.S. by 2021, according to ICE officials.
Their detention during a routine ICE check-in on February 21, 2025, and subsequent deportation have drawn criticism from immigrant advocates and their U.S.-citizen daughters.
Advocates argue the case reflects a broader trend of targeting non-criminal undocumented immigrants under intensified enforcement policies.
The Gonzalez daughters, devastated by the deportation, have raised funds to support their parents in Colombia and plan to visit them soon.