It sounded like freedom, like a world of possibility beyond the orphanage walls.
Maria Pires was getting adopted. At 11 years old, she envisioned escaping the chaos and violence of the São Paulo orphanage, where she had endured horrific abuse. She was hopeful to leave Brazil for America.
Floyd Sykes III, a single man in his 40s, arrived in São Paulo to meet her. After signing some paperwork, he took Maria to Baltimore, believing she had finally found a home.
However, her new life turned into a nightmare as Sykes subjected her to unimaginable cruelty. Following nearly three years of abuse, Sykes was arrested, and Maria entered foster care.
Over the years, violence and crime marred her teenage years. Struggling with anger and despair, Maria got involved in altercations, leaving a teenager in a coma and attacking a prison guard.
In prison, it was revealed that no one had filed her immigration paperwork; she was left without a nationality. Despite being granted some leniency under immigration laws, the situation changed drastically during Trump’s presidency.
Immigration officials labeled her a dangerous criminal and prioritized her for deportation. On March 6, 2023, during what was meant to be a routine immigration check-in, Maria was arrested.
Following her deportation to Brazil, where she faced the harsh realities of her past, she is currently learning to navigate a life without the only home she remembers. All the while, she continues to hope for a brighter future.
