SEATTLE (AP) — Ramón Rodriguez Vazquez was a farmworker for 16 years in southeast Washington state, where he and his wife of 40 years raised four children and 10 grandchildren. The 62-year-old was part of a tight-knit community and had never committed a crime.
On Feb. 5, immigration officers, who came to his house looking for someone else, took him into custody. He was denied bond, despite letters of support from friends, family, his employer, and a physician who stated the family needed him.
He was sent to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Tacoma, Washington, where his health rapidly declined due to lack of prescription medication for several medical conditions, including high blood pressure. The emotional toll of being unable to care for his sick granddaughter was overwhelming. Eventually, he gave up hope.
At an appearance with an immigration judge, he requested to leave without a formal deportation mark on his record. The judge granted his request, and he returned to Mexico alone, a drastic change for someone who had built a life in the U.S.
His case exemplifies the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation efforts, dismissing years of procedure in favor of swift action. Similar situations are unfolding in immigration courts nationwide as ICE has started opposing bond requests for detained individuals, irrespective of their circumstances.
“He was the head of the house, everything — the one who took care of everything,” said Gloria Guizar, 58, Rodriguez’s wife. “Being separated from the family has been so hard. Even though our kids are grown, and we’ve got grandkids, everybody misses him.”
Before his detention, the idea of leaving was unthinkable. The ordeal broke him.
‘Self deport or we will deport you’
It is challenging to ascertain how many people have left the U.S. voluntarily since Trump took office, as many depart without notifying authorities. The administration seems to rely on “self-deportation,” aiming to make life unbearable enough that individuals choose to leave voluntarily.
The Justice Department indicated that judges granted “voluntary departure” in over 15,000 cases within the last fiscal year, a substantial increase compared to the previous year.
ICE reported nearly 320,000 deportations during the past year, while Customs and Border Protection did not disclose its numbers.
Secretary Kristi Noem stated that approximately 1.6 million individuals have left the U.S. since Trump's presidency began. However, some experts contend that this number may be inflated.
The administration offers financial incentives for voluntary departures, accompanying a threat of forced removal to third countries for non-compliers. An assistant secretary claimed that the rise in voluntary departures validates their approach.
“They treat her like a criminal”
A Colombian woman withdrew her asylum claim while in a Seattle immigration court, stating she wasn’t coerced. Her American girlfriend expressed her frustration with a system that criminalizes the innocent.
In Tacoma's detention center, others also expressed a desire to leave despite fear and uncertainty about returning to their home countries, often under duress.
“His absence has been deeply felt”
Rodriguez entered the U.S. in 2009 and significantly contributed to his community as an agricultural worker. His employer described him as an essential team member whose absence profoundly impacts their operations.
Despite his efforts to appeal for bond release and help his sick granddaughter, Rodriguez was ultimately left without options. A recent federal ruling against denying bond hearings will not benefit him, as he remains in Mexico with little hope of returning.
