Yessica Rojas fled the U.S. with her children after hearing of heartbreaking stories of deported Venezuelan mothers. The fear triggered by these accounts, compounded by reports of children being placed in foster care, led her to leave Missouri amid growing anxiety within immigrant communities.
Venezuelan Mother Leaves America in Fear of Losing Her Children
Venezuelan Mother Leaves America in Fear of Losing Her Children
Yessica Rojas, a mother from Venezuela, makes a heart-wrenching decision to leave the U.S. fearing deportation may separate her from her children, mirroring the plight of many immigrant families.
Yessica Rojas, a 29-year-old Venezuelan mother, found herself at a crossroads and decided to leave the United States this spring after living in Missouri for less than two years. The choice stemmed from chilling stories about fellow Venezuelan mothers being deported back to their homeland while American authorities retained custody of their children.
“I’ve seen too many terrible situations,” said Ms. Rojas, whose fears were amplified by the experiences shared on social media. One particularly striking account involved a two-year-old girl named Antonella, who was left in foster care while her mother was deported back to Venezuela and her father was imprisoned in El Salvador. Although Antonella has since been returned to her family, Ms. Rojas felt the urgency of her situation.
In light of such distressing news, Ms. Rojas felt that remaining in the U.S. was no longer worth the risk. She expressed that the fear of losing her children to a similar fate pushed her to make the difficult decision to leave, acknowledging the precarious situation faced by so many immigrant families.
This alarming trend of immigrant parents opting to leave America comes amid a backdrop of intensified warnings from the Trump administration, alongside offers of financial incentives for those choosing to “self-deport.” While the number of individuals returning to their home countries since the president's second term began is unclear, reports indicate a growing number of families, particularly those from Venezuela, are voluntarily departing.
A recent flight reportedly facilitated the departure of around 65 individuals seeking refuge in Colombia and Honduras, but the personal stories of families like Ms. Rojas highlight the emotional toll of such decisions. As immigrant communities grapple with this reality, the fear of losing children to a fractured family landscape remains a powerful motivator in their choices.
