El Salvador Family's Forced Return from US Due to Immigration Fears

Fear of US Immigration Policy

• 💔 Yessenia Ruano, a teacher, chose to self-deport from the US with her family to El Salvador due to fear of persecution under anti-immigrant policies.
• ⚠️ She was afraid of being detained or separated from her two young daughters by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
• 🗓️ Her reporting frequency to ICE increased from annually to monthly after President Trump took office, culminating in a warning to return or face detention.

Journey to the US and T Visa Application

• 🇺🇸 Ruano illegally migrated to the US in 2011 seeking to escape poverty and violence, enduring a traumatic journey involving a smuggler.
• 🤝 She later applied for a T visa, intended for victims of human trafficking who assist authorities in criminal cases.

Deportation Trends and Return Programs

• 📉 Data indicates a nearly 24% decrease in Salvadoran deportations from the US between January and June compared to the same period in 2024.
• 🏡 El Salvador's government is promoting a program to encourage the return of its citizens abroad, with nearly 400 families participating.

Rebuilding Life in El Salvador

• 🏠 Ruano and her husband, who also self-deported, are planning to build a home with savings from abroad.
• 💼 They aim to find jobs as teachers or in construction/tourism, or start a business selling tortillas or ice cream.
• 👧 Her 10-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, finds the transition challenging, noting differences in environment and culture.
• ❓ Ruano contemplates if her daughters will eventually return to Milwaukee, where they still own a home, once they are over 18.