There's community-wide outcry as dozens rally to stop the deportation of a mother of four. Esperanza Pacheco came to the U.S. illegally 23 years ago and she's ordered back to Mexico on Tuesday.
"Looking at my mom there, she doesn't deserve to be there, we deserve a mom at home," said her oldest daughter Esmeralda Moctezuma.
The protestors stood outside of Congressmen David Joyce's office were begging him to stop the deportation.
Esperanza was arrested a few days back after her family says she went to a routine meeting at the deportation office. All four of her children are U.S. citizens and so are her parents, but by the time her father was granted legal status, Esperanza was too old for her citizenship to be fast-tracked and her application is still in limbo.
A spokesperson for ICE sent News 5's a statement about the case:
On Nov. 14, deportation officers arrested Esperanza Pacheco Padilla, an unlawfully present citizen of Mexico. Ms Pacheco Padilla was granted an order of voluntary departure by a federal immigration judge in 2003, but failed to depart the country as instructed, automatically changing that order to a final order of removal (deportation order). She has a criminal record that includes misdemeanor convictions.
Ms Pacheco Padilla been granted stays of removal on two occasions, allowing her time to finalize her own departure or order or seek further legal proceedings. She will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.
In a last-ditch effort, the family plans to file a "Stay of Removal" form Monday and if accepted Esperanza would be allowed to stay in the country.
