Miguel Lopez can barely remember a time before his life was upended by the U.S. immigration system.
On his 47th birthday, he found himself in Chimalhuacán, a municipality on the outskirts of Mexico City, instead of celebrating with his family in Livermore, California.
After spending nearly three decades in the United States, food and memories of a life well-lived have been replaced by uncertainty and struggle in a country that feels alien to him now.
Lopez’s journey back to Mexico began on June 7, when he was deported after a routine immigration check-in led to his detention.
While he had always navigated the immigration system without issue, this time was different.
The 47-year-old father of three had spent the last nine years working at Wente Vineyards, making a living to support his wife Rosa, a U.S. citizen, and their children, but one immigration check-in changed everything.
Rosa had urged him to wear a sweater, and Lopez’s regular court visits had become a tradition for the couple, who often celebrated the day with clam chowder at Fisherman’s Wharf.
But this time, Lopez found himself behind bars instead of enjoying a meal with his family.
After ten days of detention, the family was shocked to learn that a judge had granted a temporary restraining order against his deportation—a decision that arrived too late.
Lopez was already being dropped off in Tijuana, with no identification or sense of direction.
In Tijuana, he checked in with Mexican immigration and was given a repatriation notice along with a small amount of money for travel.
However, the reality of reintegration in Mexico was daunting.
Arriving back at his childhood home, Lopez discovered how much Chimalhuacán had changed.
New construction and unfamiliar faces met him at every turn.
As he took stock of his surroundings, memories flooded back—not of the home he left behind, but of a life he could barely recognize.
Lopez’s father had made updates to the family house, partly funded by the money Lopez had sent home over the years, but it no longer felt like the home he remembered.
“The mountain in the horizon used to be natural, and now it’s just filled with new houses,” he said, wrestling with the changes that had occurred in his absence.
Now, like numerous other Mexicans repatriated since President Donald Trump took office, Lopez is trying to find his place in a country that feels less like home than it once did.
The Mexican government has implemented programs like “México Te Abraza” to support repatriates, providing them with health check-ups and some initial financial assistance, but Lopez has found it challenging to adapt.
“Reintegration isn’t so easy,” he said, expressing his lack of familiarity with local customs and resources.
After spending only a brief moment in Tijuana, he was faced with the reality of life in Chimalhuacán, where job opportunities are scarce and many of his neighbors struggle to make ends meet selling wares in local markets.
“I really want to start my own business,” he said, thinking ahead to the possibility of getting his welding tools from California.
His dreams of working in Mexico’s vineyards, similar to his years in California, feel distant without a stable job to support his family.
Back in Livermore, Rosa continues to manage the household finances, dividing their income between two countries, a situation that adds considerable stress to both their lives.
“I’m stressed out,” Lopez admitted, feeling the weight of responsibility that had shifted since his departure from the U.S.
To complicate matters further, safety is a significant concern.
Chimalhuacán is known for being one of the more dangerous areas in Mexico, and Lopez worries about safety, especially following the murder of his younger brother just two years ago.
As the couple looks for hope in their current circumstances, Lopez continues to reminisce about life in Livermore—the gatherings, golf outings, and the comfort of family rituals.
But as he adjusts to his new reality, finding a sense of belonging in his hometown is challenging.
In California, things are changing as well.
Rosa can no longer bear to look at Lopez’s Ford F-350 truck parked at a friend’s house, which serves as a constant reminder of her husband’s absence.
Angel, their eldest son, has taken to spending his free time at the gym, changing the dynamics of the home in noticeable ways.
And Lopez’s youngest son, Julian, despite receiving encouragement to play football for his senior year, cannot relish his father’s support from afar.
During Lopez’s birthday visit, despite the heavy emotions, moments of warmth and humor broke through as the couple connected over shared memories.
As they joked at the table of Lopez’s father, licht turned the day into an unexpected reprieve from the pressures of reality.
Rosa decided to stay until her daughter Stephanie’s birthday, but her own fears lingered as they navigated a landscape that felt daunting.
“It wasn’t how I imagined it,” Lopez reflected on his return, struggling to reclaim a sense of normalcy in the face of obstacles that seemed insurmountable.
Yet both Lopez and Rosa continue to hold on to the hope of reunification.
“I’ll do anything to bring my family back together,” Rosa said, embodying the perseverance that has characterized their journey.
The passage of time after Lopez’s deportation has illuminated the complexities of their situation.
Married in 2001, their family has long been intertwined with the challenges and trials of U.S. immigration law.
Lopez’s initial application for a green card faced immense obstacles when the Department of Homeland Security initiated removal proceedings after a misunderstanding regarding his entry documentation.
Even after being granted a green card by a favorable immigration judge in 2012, the ruling was later appealed, leading to a painful legal battle that culminated in a serious setback when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case.
With another court hearing scheduled for October 7, Lopez remains hopeful that a reversal might allow him to return to the U.S.
Even with uncertainty lingering, he and Rosa are determined.
“Sometimes God sends you the hardest things to see if you’re strong enough for it,” Rosa reflected, reminding herself of the resilience they both possess.
“I’ve spent so much time fighting,” Lopez reiterated, expressing both determination and fatigue as he continues to grapple with the weight of his situation.
As they look towards the future, their journey speaks volumes about immigration struggles, resilience, and the lasting ties that bind families across borders.
image source from：missionlocal
