Sara Hernández García, an 11-year-old born in Texas, is now living in Mexico even though she is a US citizen. Her parents, who entered the United States illegally, have been deported, forcing Sara and her family to relocate despite her ongoing treatment for a brain tumor.
Legal advocates shared that while Sara was receiving medical care, the family had no trouble traveling within Texas. This changed after Donald Trump took office, as immigration enforcement intensified significantly. Danny Woodward, their attorney, explained that previously Customs and Border Protection allowed the family to pass immigration checkpoints when shown hospital letters detailing Sara’s serious medical condition.
However, the Garcia family was recently stopped at a checkpoint in South Texas while heading to an emergency hospital appointment in Houston. Despite explaining the situation, they were given only two painful choices: the government could take their children, or the entire family would be deported. The parents and five children were detained and sent back to Mexico the very next day.
While the family’s account is disputed by Homeland Security officials who cited privacy concerns, the Garcia relatives remain in Mexico, hoping for humanitarian parole to return. Meanwhile, they fear for the safety of their other children who remain in the US, worried they might be targeted due to their American citizenship.
