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UNLAWFULLY DEPORTED: ORGULLOSA’S STORY OF FAMILY SEPARATION, ICE’S HARASSMENT AND RETURNING HOME

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ORGULLOSA IS SHOWING ME AROUND THE HOUSE. WE’RE ON A STATICKY VIDEO CALL. THE CURTAINS ARE DRAWN, BLOCKING OUT AS MUCH SUNLIGHT AS POSSIBLE. TODAY IS A VERY HOT DAY IN NORTHERN HONDURAS.

ORGULLOSA: “ DEMASIADA CALOR HACIA AQUÍ.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE’D ALREADY FORGOTTEN HOW CLAMMY AND HUMID THE SUMMER CAN BE HERE.

ORGULLOSA: “ Y AQUÍ ESTE LADO ES UN CUARTO”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE POINTS THE CAMERA AROUND THE ROOM WHERE SHE AND HER THREE KIDS SLEEP. SHE SHARES A BED WITH THE YOUNGEST.

THEN, SHE WALKS DOWNSTAIRS AND POINTS THE PHONE TO TWO OF HER KIDS.

ORGULLOSA:  ”ESTÁN JUGANDO EN EL TELÉFONO”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THEY’RE SITTING IN FRONT OF THE TELEVISION, ON THEIR LITTLE PLASTIC CHAIRS, PLAYING A VIDEO GAME. ROBLOX. IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW. (PAUSE) THEY’RE SO LOCKED-IN THAT THEY DON’T EVEN LOOK UP WHEN ORGULLOSA WALKS BY.

ORGULLOSA:  ”ASÍ PASAN ELLOS.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE SAYS THIS IS HOW THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS NOW, INSIDE BECAUSE IT’S REALLY HOT OUT. PLUS, THEY DON’T HAVE MANY FRIENDS YET, IN HONDURAS.

MUSIC 

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THINGS SEEM PRETTY ORDINARY HERE. ORGULLOSA IS TAKING CARE OF HER CHILDREN, HER KIDS ARE BEING KIDS AND SHE HAS A ROOF OVER HER HEAD.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, THINGS HERE ARE NOT OKAY.

MUSIC

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: BEHIND THIS VEIL OF NORMALITY… ORGULLOSA’S FAMILY IS BEGRUDGINGLY ADJUSTING TO THEIR NEW LIVES… THEY’RE NAVIGATING A TRAUMATIC, AND ABRUPT CHANGE, AND THIS… IS SLOWLY BECOMING THEIR NEW REALITY…

ORGULLOSA: “ ES DIFÍCIL VIVIR AQUÍ EN HONDURAS.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE SAYS IT’S DIFFICULT TO LIVE HERE.

ORGULLOSA SETTLES ONTO THE BED AND GETS COMFORTABLE. I’M THE FIRST REPORTER SHE’S GOING TO TELL THE STORY OF HOW SHE ENDED UP HERE… DEPORTED TO HONDURAS…

NOW ORGULLOSA IS NOT HER REAL NAME, WE’RE GOING TO BE USING PSEUDONYMS FOR HER AND HER FAMILY IN THIS STORY TO PROTECT THEIR SAFETY.

ORGULLOSA: “SIETE AÑOS DE ESTAR EN ESTADOS UNIDOS Y VENIR A VIVIR Y ES COMO ESTAS EMPEZANDO DE CERO AQUÍ.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF WORKING HARD AND BUILDING A LIFE IN THE U.S. WITH HER CHILDREN, NOW SHE’S BACK HERE, IN THE COUNTRY SHE ONCE LEFT BEHIND… STARTING OVER FROM ZERO.

MUSIC 

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THIS SUDDEN INSTABILITY IN HER LIFE FEELS LIKE WHIPLASH…BECAUSE SHE’S GONE THROUGH IT BEFORE… SHE’S ALREADY HAD TO START OVER…  AND HERE SHE IS… A SECOND TIME…

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MARIA HINOJOSA: FROM FUTURO MEDIA, IT’S LATINO USA. I’M MARIA HINOJOSA.

TODAY, WE MEET A FAMILY THAT WAS RECENTLY DEPORTED TO HONDURAS, DESPITE HAVING LEGAL PROTECTIONS TO REMAIN IN THE U.S.

WE LEARN HOW THIS FAMILY’S STORY IS NOW PART OF A BROADER LEGAL EFFORT TO RETURN FAMILIES LIKE HERS, WHO ARE PROTECTED UNDER A LEGAL SETTLEMENT WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

YOU JUST HEARD FROM LATINO USA PRODUCER REYNALDO LEANOS JR SPEAKING WITH ORGULLOSA. HE’S GOING TO BRING US THE REST OF THE STORY.

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ON OCTOBER 14, THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ACLU, FILED AN URGENT MOTION WITH THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA.

ORGULLOSA: “ WHAT WE ARE ASKING THE COURT TO DO IS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THAT’S LEE GELERNT (GAH-LERNT). HE’S A LAWYER IN THE FILING AND DIRECTOR OF THE ACLU’S IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT.

THE MOTION HE FILED ALLEGES THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DEPORTED ORGULLOSA’S FAMILY AND OTHER PREVIOUSLY SEPARATED FAMILIES, DESPITE THEM HAVING PAROLE STATUS, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO REMAIN IN THE U.S LEGALLY.

ORGULLOSA: “WE BELIEVE THAT THESE FAMILIES WERE REMOVED ILLEGALLY AND WE’RE ASKING THE COURT TO ORDER THE GOVERNMENT TO FACILITATE THEIR RETURN BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.”

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: GALERNT CLAIMS PART OF THEIR DEPORTATION WAS ILLEGAL BECAUSE ORGULLOSA AND HER FAMILY HAD A PAROLE STATUS UNTIL JULY 2027. AND THIS FORM OF PROTECTION WAS GRANTED TO THEM BECAUSE THEY’D ALREADY FACED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IN A LARGER LEGAL BATTLE.

THEY’RE PART OF A PROTECTED CLASS OF PEOPLE UNDER THE “MS. L SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT”.

MUSIC 

ORGULLOSA: “WE REACHED A COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THE MS L AGREEMENT HAS ROOTS THAT STEM BACK TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S 2018 “ZERO TOLERANCE” POLICY, WHEN THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WERE RIPPED AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER. THE AGREEMENT WAS MEANT TO, IN A WAY, HELP RIGHT SOME OF THE WRONGS OF THE FAMILY SEPARATION POLICIES UNDER THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. IT GRANTED CERTAIN BENEFITS TO FAMILIES TORN APART—THINGS LIKE ACCESS TO LEGAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND… PAROLE STATUS.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: IT ALL DATES BACK TO EARLY 2018, WHEN ORGULLOSA ARRIVED AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER WITH HER THEN FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, ESTRELLA. THEY’D MADE THE DIFFICULT CROSS-COUNTRY JOURNEY TOGETHER. AT THE BORDER, ORGULLOSA AND HER CHILD TURNED THEMSELVES IN TO BORDER AGENTS AND ASKED FOR ASYLUM. THEY WERE THEN TAKEN TO AN IMMIGRATION FACILITY.

ORGULLOSA: “ ME QUITARON TODAS LAS PERTENENCIAS QUE YO TENÍA.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THE AGENTS TOOK ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS.

ORGULLOSA: “ ME DIERON UNA SÁBANA.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THEY GAVE HER AND HER DAUGHTER A SINGLE SHEET. THEN, SHE AND ESTRELLA SPENT THE NIGHT THERE.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THE NEXT DAY…

ORGULLOSA: “ ÉL ME LEVANTÓ COMO PATEANDO CON EL PIES.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: A BORDER AGENT KICKED HER TO WAKE HER UP.

ORGULLOSA: “ME DICE ¿TÚ, BIEN, SABES QUÉ ES LO QUE VA A PASAR CON TU HIJA?

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.:HE ASKED HER IF SHE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH HER DAUGHTER?

ORGULLOSA: “TÚ VAS DEPORTADA. TU HIJA QUEDA COMO ADOPCIÓN AQUÍ EN ESTADOS UNIDOS.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.:YOU WILL BE DEPORTED, HE SAID. AND YOUR DAUGHTER WILL STAY AND BE PUT UP FOR ADOPTION IN THE U.S., SHE RECALLS.

ORGULLOSA: “YO PEGUE LLANTOS”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ORGULLOSA BROKE INTO TEARS. SHE SAYS OTHER MOTHERS AROUND HER WERE TOLD THE SAME. (PAUSE) SHE CRIED ALL DAY… SHE HAD NEVER BEEN AWAY FROM HER DAUGHTER…

ORGULLOSA: ”Y CUANDO ME DIJERON A MI, SI LE VAMOS A LLEVAR LA NIÑA. AHÍ FUE QUE YO CAÍ. ME DESMAYÉ.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: LATER, IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS CAME BACK AND TOLD HER THEY WERE HERE TO TAKE HER CHILD. ORGULLOSA FAINTED.

ORGULLOSA: “Y CUANDO YO ME LEVANTÉ DE MI DESMAYO YA ESTABA SIN MI HIJA A MI LADO.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: WHEN SHE REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS, HER DAUGHTER WAS GONE.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ONE BY ONE, THE OTHER MOTHERS AT THE FACILITY ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING, SHE SAYS. ALL OF THEIR CHILDREN WERE TAKEN.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ORGULLOSA WAS DESPERATE. SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHERE HER DAUGHTER WAS TAKEN. THE OTHER MOTHERS SAID THEY SAW ESTRELLA ON A BUS.

ORGULLOSA: “ AHÍ FUE QUE YO SENTÍ QUE LA VIDA SE ME ESTABA ACABANDO.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE SAYS IT FELT LIKE HER LIFE WAS ENDING.

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ARCHIVAL: “NO KIDS IN CAGES!’ “NO KIDS IN CAGES!”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: WHILE THESE FAMILY SEPARATIONS WERE HAPPENING, IMAGES OF KIDS IN CAGES WERE BEING PLASTERED ACROSS THE NEWS. PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS, CITING THE CRUELTY OF THE PRACTICE, AND DEMANDING AN END TO FAMILY SEPARATIONS. MANY POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE REBUKED TRUMP’S POLICY.

AFTER IMMENSE PUBLIC BACKLASH, “ZERO TOLERANCE” ENDED ABOUT SIX WEEKS AFTER IT WAS IMPLEMENTED. AT LEAST 3,000 KIDS WERE RIPPED AWAY DURING THIS SHORT TIME.

LATER, CONGRESS REVEALED THAT THOUSANDS MORE WERE SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS BEFORE AND AFTER THE POLICY’S IMPLEMENTATION.

MORE THAN 5,000 CHILDREN IN TOTAL.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHORTLY AFTER TRUMP ENDED THE OFFICIAL POLICY, AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE ALLOWED HER TO LEAVE CUSTODY TO REUNITE WITH HER DAUGHTER BECAUSE SHE SO YOUNG. SHE GOT IN TOUCH WITH A LOCAL SOUTH TEXAS ORGANIZATION THAT HELPED HER GET A HOTEL … THEN, THE NEXT DAY, SHE WAS FINALLY REUNITED WITH HER DAUGHTER.

ORGULLOSA: “ UNA TRABAJADORA SOCIAL LA TRAJO DE MARYLAND.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ESTRELLA WAS BROUGHT TO TEXAS ALL THE WAY FROM MARYLAND, SHE SAYS. HER 5-YEAR-OLD HAD BEEN LIVING AT AN OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SHELTER.

ORGULLOSA: “CUANDO YO VI A MI NIÑA, YO SENTÍ UN GRAN FELICIDAD EN EL CORAZÓN PORQUE YA ME HAN DADO MI HIJA.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: WHEN SHE SAW HER DAUGHTER, SHE FELT SO HAPPY. THEY WERE FINALLY TOGETHER AGAIN.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: IT WAS AROUND THIS TIME THAT THE MS. L LITIGATION REALLY BEGAN UNFOLDING. AND LEE GELERNT, THE LAWYER FROM THE ACLU, WAS INVOLVED FROM THE GET-GO IN THE LEGAL FIGHT AGAINST TRUMP’S FAMILY SEPARATION POLICY. HE VIVIDLY REMEMBERS THIS ERA AS –

LEE GELERNT: “SAD AND IT’S FRUSTRATING. THIS IS THE WORST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY 30 PLUS YEARS DOING THIS WORK. IT WAS GRATUITOUS CRUELTY AT ITS ABSOLUTE WORST.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: AFTER ORGULLOSA WAS REUNITED WITH HER DAUGHTER, SHE THOUGHT THE HORROR THEY LIVED THROUGH WAS FINALLY OVER. SHE SET OUT TO PICK UP THE SHATTERED PIECES OF HER LIFE, AND TRY TO MOVE ON FROM THE TRAUMA. AND FOR A WHILE, SHE DID.

ORGULLOSA: “ EMPECÉ A TRABAJAR.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE GOT A JOB.

ORGULLOSA: “EMPECÉ IR A LA IGLESIA, ME HICE CRISTIANA”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: STARTED GOING TO CHURCH AND BECAME A CHRISTIAN.

ORGULLOSA:  ”ELLA TAMBIÉN EN LA ESCUELA.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ESTRELLA STARTED SCHOOL.

ORGULLOSA WAS ALSO ABLE TO BRING HER ELDEST SON TO THE U.S., WHOM SHE’D LEFT BACK IN HONDURAS. SHE BEGAN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE AND EVEN HAD A BABY, A LITTLE BOY.

SHE STARTED LIVING HER AMERICAN DREAM —A BETTER LIFE THAN SHE HAD IN HONDURAS.

BUT AS MUCH AS SHE TRIED TO PUT THE PAST BEHIND HER, THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF THE SEPARATION REARED.

ORGULLOSA:  ”ELLA SIEMPRE SE HACÍA PIPÍ ENCIMA. SIEMPRE SE HACÍA PIPÍ EN LA ESCUELA.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ESTRELLA WOULD URINATE HERSELF AT HOME AND EVEN AT SCHOOL. THE SOUND OF AN AMBULANCE PASSING BY, OR A POLICE SIREN WAILING IN THE STREETS, WOULD TRIGGER THIS.

ORGULLOSA AND ESTRELLA WENT TO THERAPY. SHE LEARNED THAT HER YOUNG DAUGHTER WAS DEEPLY TRAUMATIZED BY THEIR SEPARATION.

IT WASN’T UNTIL ESTRELLA WAS ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE THAT SHE FINALLY STOPPED WETTING HERSELF, SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THEIR INITIAL SEPARATION.

AS ESTRELLA STARTED TO HEAL, LIFE DID START TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS GETTING BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY FOR THEIR FAMILY.

MUSIC 

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THE MS. L SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OFFICIALLY WENT INTO EFFECT IN LATE 2023. ORGULLOSA GAINED MORE CONCRETE PROTECTIONS – LIKE THE PAROLE STATUS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, ALLOWING HER TO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY UNTIL AT LEAST 2027…

BUT THE STABILITY SHE SLOWLY BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE CAME TO A CRASHING END WHEN TRUMP BECAME PRESIDENT… AGAIN.

MARIA HINOJOSA: WHEN WE COME BACK, WE LEARN WHAT LED TO ORGULLOSA’S SUDDEN DEPORTATION TO HONDURAS WHEN TRUMP TOOK OFFICE FOR A SECOND TERM.

STAY WITH US, NO TE VAYAS.

MUSIC: 

MARIA HINOJOSA: HEY, WE’RE BACK.

BEFORE THE BREAK, WE MET ORGULLOSA, WHO WAS RECENTLY DEPORTED TO HONDURAS AND IS NOW PART OF A BROADER LEGAL EFFORT TO BRING HER, AND OTHER FAMILIES, BACK TO THE U.S.

NOW, WE’RE GOING TO HEAR FROM ORGULLOSA ABOUT THE HARASSMENT SHE EXPERIENCED FROM ICE IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO HER DEPORTATION.

LATINO USA PRODUCER, REYNALDO LEANOS JR. CONTINUES FROM HERE.

TRUMP: “ALL ILLEGAL ENTRY WILL IMMEDIATELY BE HALTED AND WE WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RETURNING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF CRIMINAL ALIENS TO WHERE THEY CAME…”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: WHEN TRUMP BECAME PRESIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR, ORGULLOSA SAYS SHE FELT THE EFFECTS ALMOST INSTANTLY.

SHE HAD BEEN GOING TO REGULAR CHECK-INS WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT13. HER CHECK-INS WITH ICE WERE SPARSE AND USUALLY FAIRLY QUICK. SHE HAD PAROLE STATUS, AND WORK AUTHORIZATION

SHE HAD BEEN DOING THINGS THE “RIGHT WAY” SO SHE WASN’T REALLY STRESSED.. BUT AT HER JANUARY APPOINTMENT, THE PROCESS SUDDENLY CHANGED.

ORGULLOSA:  ”ME DIJERON TÚ TENÍA QUE ENTRAR AL LINK DE ICE PARA PROPORCIONAR UNA CITA.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THEY TOLD HER SHE NEEDED TO GO ONLINE AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. HER STANDING APPOINTMENT WITH ICE WAS NO LONGER VALID. ORGULLOSA WAS CONFUSED. WHEN SHE ARRIVED FOR HER MAY CHECK-IN, SOMETHING ELSE WAS DIFFERENT.

ORGULLOSA: ”CUANDO YO LLEGO A LA CITA PRIMERA VEZ EN MI VIDA, DEL TIEMPO QUE YO ESTUVE VIVIENDO EN ESTADOS UNIDOS, ME TARDABA YO A UNA CITA.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS THAT THE APPOINTMENT TOOK A WHILE. SHE AND HER DAUGHTER ESTRELLA, WAITED FOR HOURS IN A WAITING ROOM UNTIL IT WAS HER TURN. THIS MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL, BUT IT MADE ORGULLOSA ANXIOUS.

BY THEN, SHE’D BEEN SEEING A LOT OF DISTURBING NEWS REPORTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE CHECKING IN TO THEIR ICE APPOINTMENTS AND COURT HEARINGS WERE BEING DETAINED AND DEPORTED.

ARCHIVAL: “NBC 6 WAS THERE AS PERSON AFTER PERSON LEFT MIAMI’S IMMIGRATION COURT IN TEARS THURSDAY. “UNA INJUSTICIA. ¡UNA GRAN INJUSTICIA!

ARCHIVAL: “A TEENAGE BOY…”

ARCHIVAL: “THIS IS…”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: WHEN IT WAS FINALLY HER TURN TO GO IN, THE IMMIGRATION OFFICER TOLD HER…

ORGULLOSA:  ”TÚ TIENES UNA ORDEN DEPORTACIÓN VOLUNTARIA.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE WAS TOLD THAT SHE HAD A SIGNED ORDER FOR VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE IS THE LEGAL NAME FOR SOMETHING PEOPLE OFTEN REFER TO AS “SELF DEPORTATION” – BASICALLY, ICE WAS SAYING THAT THEY HAD PAPERWORK IN WHICH SHE HAD AGREED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

ORGULLOSA WAS SHOCKED. SHE ASKED, WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

ORGULLOSA: “ AHORITA FUE QUE TE LO ASIGNARON, ME DICE”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: RIGHT NOW, THEY TOLD HER.

WHEN IS IT FOR? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? IT DIDN’T MAKE SENSE, SHE THOUGHT.

THE OFFICIAL SAID SHE HAD AGREED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

SHE WAS CONFIDENT SHE HAD NEVER SIGNED ANYTHING. BUT THE AGENTS TOLD HER IT WAS IN HER FILE. SO MOVING FORWARD, THEY WERE GOING TO MONITOR HER.

THEN, SHE SAYS, THEY ASKED HER A WATERFALL OF QUESTIONS.

ORGULLOSA: “CUÁNTO HIJO TIENES?”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU HAVE?

ORGULLOSA: “¿DÓNDE TÚ VIVE? ¿CUÁL ES TU DIRECCIÓN?”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: WHERE DO YOU LIVE? WHAT’S YOUR ADDRESS?

ORGULLOSA: “ TENÉS PAREJA, TÚ MANEJAS? ¿QUÉ TIPO DE CARRO? ¿CUÁL ES LA PLACA?”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: DO YOU HAVE A PARTNER? DO YOU DRIVE? WHAT KIND OF CAR IS IT? WHAT ARE THE PLATES?

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THEN, SHE WAS TOLD SHE’D BE GETTING AN ANKLE MONITOR.

ORGULLOSA: “AHÍ FUE QUE SE ME CAYERON LAS LÁGRIMAS.

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE STARTED TO CRY.

ORGULLOSA: DIJE YO, PERO POR QUÉ ME VAN A PONER GRIETE? SIENDO QUE YO NO ESTOY HACIENDO NADA MALO.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: WHY ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THIS ON ME?, SHE ASKED. I HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING WRONG. 

ESTRELLA, NOW 12, STARTED CRYING. SHE URINATED HERSELF.

THAT SNAPPED ORGULLOSA OUT OF HER OWN FEARS. SHE STOPPED CRYING AND TOLD HERSELF SHE NEEDED TO BE STRONG FOR HER DAUGHTER.

ONCE THE ANKLE MONITOR WAS ON, ORGULLOSA SAYS SHE WAS TOLD TO SIGN A DOCUMENT.

ORGULLOSA: “FIRMARME AQUÍ. ESO SIGNIFICA DE QUE SI TÚ TE RETIRAS DE AQUÍ DE ESTADOS UNIDOS, TE VAS A LLEVAR A TODOS TUS HIJOS.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SIGN HERE. THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU LEAVE THE U.S. YOU WILL TAKE YOUR CHILDREN WITH YOU.

ORGULLOSA SAYS SHE SIGNED BECAUSE SHE FELT PRESSURED. SHE WAS TERRIFIED. THE IDEA OF POSSIBLY BEING SEPARATED FROM HER CHILDREN ONCE AGAIN, BROUGHT BACK ALL THE TRAUMA SHE HAD WORKED SO HARD TO HEAL.

WHEN SHE GOT TO WORK, SHE TOLD HER BOSS ABOUT THE ANKLE MONITOR.

ORGULLOSA: “ ME ABRAZÓ Y ME DICE A MÍ, CON EL DOLOR, PERO TÚ NO PUEDES TRABAJAR CON ESO AQUI.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: HER BOSS HUGGED HER AND SAID, I’M SORRY BUT YOU CAN’T WORK HERE WITH THAT. ORGULLOSA GRABBED HER THING AND WENT HOME.

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ORGULLOSA: “ ME CORTARON OTRAS ALAS OTRA VEZ.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE FELT AS IF SOMEONE HAD JUST CHOPPED OFF HER WINGS, AGAIN.

THE FOLLOWING MONTH WAS REALLY HARD. THE ANKLE MONITOR WASN’T COMFORTABLE, ORGULLOSA HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO IT, SHE DIDN’T HAVE A JOB, SHE LOST WEIGHT, AND HER HAIR EVEN STARTED TO FALL OUT.

SHE DECIDED TO SEEK HELP.

THIS JUNE, SOMEONE REFERRED HER TO A LAWYER. HER NAME IS ANILU CHADWICK. SHE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM ORGULLOSA IN SPANISH.

ANILU CHADWICK: “IT SAID SHE WAS A SEPARATED PARENT, THAT SHE REALLY NEEDED HELP, THAT SHE WAS SCARED BECAUSE ICE HAD PLACED HER ON AN ANKLE MONITOR…”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: CHADWICK IS THE PRO BONO DIRECTOR OF THE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ORGANIZATION TOGETHER AND FREE. PART OF WHAT SHE DOES IS HELP SEPARATED FAMILIES GAIN ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS GUARANTEED UNDER THE MS. L SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

ANILU CHADWICK: IT’S BECOME CLEAR TO HER AND OTHERS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS NOW TRYING TO UNDO YEARS OF WORK. THEY ARE SEEKING TO DEPORT THE FAMILIES THAT ADVOCATES, LAWYERS, AND OFFICIALS UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WORKED SO HARD TO FIND AND REUNITE

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: CHADWICK CLEARLY REMEMBERS HER FIRST IMPRESSION OF ORGULLOSA.

ANILU CHADWICK: “ THIS MOM WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO FIGHT FOR HER CHILDREN’S SAFETY AND HER OWN.”

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: IT WAS DURING THIS TIME, WHEN ORGULLOSA HAD HER ANKLE MONITOR, THAT SHE ALSO STARTED TO FEEL THAT IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS WERE REALLY HARASSING HER…

ORGULLOSA:  ”ESA GENTE NO ME DEJABA EN PAZ.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THEY STARTED TO CHECK IN WITH HER CONSTANTLY.

ONE DAY IT WAS THROUGH THE PHONE, THEN IT WAS A RANDOM HOUSE VISIT, ANOTHER TIME SHE WAS TOLD SHE NEEDED TO GO IN-PERSON… EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS THEY WERE CHECKING-IN ON HER.

ORGULLOSA: “ IT ALL SEEMED INTENTIONAL AND I’VE NEVER BEFORE SEEN THIS.

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ON TOP OF THAT, CHADWICK SAYS THAT ORGULLOSA WAS GIVEN CONFUSING MESSAGES DURING HER CHECK-INS.

ORGULLOSA:  ”SHE WAS EVEN TOLD AT ONE POINT DURING ONE OF THESE CHECK-INS THAT SHE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR ASYLUM.  AN ICE OFFICER DOES NOT MAKE THAT DECISION.  AT ANOTHER POINT THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE ORDER AND THAT COULDN’T BE RIGHT EITHER”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: THE ACLU’S FILING ALSO SAYS THAT THE IMMIGRATION JUDGE WHO RELEASED HER FROM DETENTION IN 2018 NEVER GAVE HER NOTICE OF A FUTURE COURT DATE, A DECISION IN HER ASYLUM CASE, OR A NOTICE OF A REMOVAL ORDER.

CHADWICK SAYS THAT THE ONE THING SHE DID SIGN WAS THAT DOCUMENT SAYING THAT SHE WOULD NOT LEAVE THE U.S. WITHOUT HER KIDS.

ORGULLOSA: “IT’S NOT CLEAR AT WHAT STAGE OF ICE’S REPRESENTATION SHE SIGNED THAT.

MUSIC 

MARIA HINOJOSA: WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK, NO TE VAYAS

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MARIA HINOJOSA: HEY, WE’RE BACK. PRODUCER, REYNALDO LEANOS JR CONTINUES FROM HERE… 

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: I REVIEWED THE MOTION FILED BY THE ACLU. AND IT REITERATES WHAT ORGULLOSA TOLD ME: SHE NEVER SIGNED A VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE ORDER.

AND PART OF WHY ALL OF THIS IS SO CONFUSING, CHADWICK SAYS, IS BECAUSE ORGULLOSA IS PART OF THE MS. L SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

IT’S POSSIBLE SOMEONE LIKE ORGULLOSA COULD HAVE A DEPORTATION ORDER IN THEIR RECORD, BECAUSE SHE CROSSED THE BORDER IN 2018. AND THAT’S WHEN FAMILIES WERE PROSECUTED. BUT THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT EFFECTIVELY FROZE ALL OTHER PROCESSES AND MADE REUNIFICATION THE PRIORITY.

ANILU CHADWICK: “NOTHING HAPPENED WITH THOSE CASES. NOW THEY SEEM TO BE COMING ALIVE, LIKE ZOMBIE CASES, RESTARTING THE PROCESSES THEY LEFT OFF AT WHEN THEY FORCIBLY SEPARATED. THEY’RE TRYING TO FINISH THE JOB THEY STARTED.”

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: DURING ORGULLOSA’S INCREASED CHECK-INS, HER PARTNER BROKE UP WITH HER. SHE WAS REACHING HER BREAKING POINT.

ORGULLOSA:  ”SE ME VINO LA COSA TODO DE UN SOL.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: EVERYTHING WAS PILING UP.

ORGULLOSA: “PERDÍ EL CARRO.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE LOST HER CAR.

ORGULLOSA:  ”SIN NADA DE COMER EN MI CASA.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE DIDN’T HAVE FOOD AT HOME.

ORGULLOSA:  ”MI MAMÁ ESTÁ ENFERMA AQUÍ EN HONDURAS.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: AND HER MOM GOT SICK IN HONDURAS.

ORGULLOSA: “YO SENTÍA QUE MI CABEZA SE ME ESTABA REVENTANDO Y EMIGRACIÓN MOLESTANDO POR TODOS LADOS.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ORGULLOSA FELT LIKE HER HEAD WAS GOING TO EXPLODE. THEN, ONE DAY, THE IMMIGRATION AGENTS SHOWED UP AT HER DOOR, AND SHE TOLD THEM…

ORGULLOSA: “ YA NO ME ESTÉN PREGUNTANDO NADA

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: DON’T ASK ME ANYTHING ELSE, ANYMORE.

ORGULLOSA: “MEJOR MÁNDAME PARA MI PAÍS CON MI MAMÁ.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: JUST SEND ME BACK TO HONDURAS, SO THAT I CAN BE WITH MY MOM.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ORGULLOSA DIDN’T REALLY WANT TO GO BACK. BUT IN THAT MOMENT, SHE WAS BROKEN. SHE WAS TERRIFIED THAT ONE DAY SHE’D GET PICKED UP WHILE HER KIDS WERE AT SCHOOL OR AWAY AND THEY’D END UP IN A SHELTER, AGAIN.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE WAS IMMEDIATELY DETAINED AND TAKEN TO A MOTEL WITH HER KIDS.

THEN, THEY WERE ON A PLANE TO HONDURAS.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.:ORGULLOSA SAYS SHE NEVER SIGNED ANYTHING, JUST VERBALLY TOLD THEM THAT SHE WANTED TO BE SENT BACK TO HONDURAS IN A MOMENT OF DESPERATION. SHE TRIED TO WALK IT BACK, REPEATEDLY, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.

HER AMERICAN-BORN SON, ESPECIALLY, DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE THE U.S.

ORGULLOSA: “ EL MEDIO A MI MAMÁ QUE VAMOS A HACER EN HONDURAS

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: HE’D ASK HER, MOM WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THERE?

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: IT’S NOW BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND HER KIDS ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO ACCEPT THE CHANGE.

ORGULLOSA: “ ELLOS ME HAN DICHO A MÍ DE QUE REGRESEMOS A ESTADOS UNIDOS QUE PORQUE NO LE GUSTA AQUÍ.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: WHEN ARE WE GOING BACK TO THE U.S.? WE DON’T LIKE IT HERE, THEY SAY.

AND, ORGULLOSA HAS HAD TROUBLE ENROLLING THEM IN SCHOOL.

ORGULLOSA:  ”EL NIÑO ES CIUDADANO AMERICANO.  ME DIJERON QUE TENÍA QUE HACER LA DOBLE NACIONALIDAD AL NIÑO.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: SHE WAS TOLD SHE NEEDS TO GET HER YOUNGEST KID A DUAL CITIZENSHIP TO ATTEND SCHOOL IN HONDURAS, SO HE’S STILL NOT GOING TO CLASSES.

ESTRELLA, DOESN’T WRITE OR READ IN SPANISH. SO THE LOCAL SCHOOL AUTHORITIES HAVEN’T ACCEPTED HER TO ATTEND CLASSES EITHER.

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: LEE GALERNT WITH THE ACLU IS HOPEFUL THAT THEIR MOTION TO BRING BACK ORGULLOSA AND THE OTHER SEPARATED FAMILIES WHO WERE RECENTLY DEPORTED WILL WORK.

FOR NOW, THEY AWAIT THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO THEIR MOTION. AFTER, THE COURT WILL WEIGH IN.

LEE GALERNT: “WE’L JUST KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL THERE’S NOTHING WRONG.  AND THAT MEANS WHEN ALL THE FAMILIES HAVE HAD THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS COMPLIED WITH.”

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REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: ORGULLOSA HAS NOW BEEN LIVING IN HONDURAS FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS… SHE REMAINS STEADFAST THAT SHE’LL BE ABLE TO GET JUSTICE FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO HER… AND BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THE U.S.

ORGULLOSA:  ”SI DIOS MEDIANTE PELEE MI CASO EN ESTADOS UNIDOS, YO PUEDO REGRESAR LEGALMENTE. YO VOY A REGRESAR.”

REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR.: IF GOD ALLOWS, I’M GOING TO FIGHT MY CASE IN THE U.S. SO I CAN LEGALLY RETURN… I WILL RETURN…

MARIA HINOJOSA: THAT WAS LATINO USA PRODUCER REYNALDO LEANOS JR.

WE DID REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR A COMMENT REGARDING ORGULLOSA’S CASE, AND THE OTHER FAMILIES WHO WERE DEPORTED, BUT WE DID NOT HEAR BACK…

HOWEVER, AFTER WE FINISHED THIS STORY, THE GOVERNMENT DID GIVE A RESPONSE TO THE MOTION FILED BY THE ACLU.

THEY ARGUE THAT THE COURT SHOULD DENY THE ACLU’S MOTION. AND THEY ALLEGE THAT ORGULLOSA AND HER FAMILY DEPARTED VOLUNTARILY FROM THE U.S. THE ACLU’S MOTION SHOWS ORGULLOSA AND HER KIDS WERE IN ICE CUSTODY IN A MOTEL UNTIL THEY BOARDED THEIR FLIGHT.

AND IN REGARDS TO THE OTHER FAMILIES, THEY SAY QUOTE “FOR THOSE WHOSE DEPARTURE WAS NOT VOLUNTARY, THE COURT LACKS THE AUTHORITY TO ORDER DEFENDENTS TO FACILITATE RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES AT TAX PAYER’S EXPENSE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY AS IT DEVELOPS.

THIS EPISODE WAS PRODUCED BY REYNALDO LEANOS JR  AND EDITED BY JULIETA MARTINELLI. IT WAS MIXED BY GABRIELA BAEZ.

FACT CHECKING FOR THIS EPISODE BY ROXANA AGUIRRE

FERNANDA ECHAVARRI IS OUR MANAGING EDITOR.

SPECIAL THANKS TO TK OF GOTHAM PRODUCTION STUDIOS…

THIS STORY WAS CO-PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EL FARO ENGLISH.

THE LATINO USA TEAM ALSO INCLUDES: JULIA CARUSO, JESSICA ELLIS, REBECA IBARRA, STEPHANIE LEBOW, LUIS LUNA, GLORIMAR MARQUEZ, MONICA MORALES-GARCIA, JJ QUERUBIN, ADREANNA RODRIGUEZ, AND NANCY TRUJILLO.

PENILEY RAMIREZ AND I ARE OUR EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

I’M YOUR HOST MARIA HINOJOSA.

LATINO USA IS PART OF I-HEART’S MY CULTURA PODCAST NETWORK. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS AT IHEART ARE LEO GOMEZ AND ARLENE SANTANA.

JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME AND IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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CIAO!

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