'We cried together': Trump's deportation drive forces tough decisions for couples

April 25, 2026

When Janie Pérez's undocumented husband Alejandro was arrested by ICE agents in Missouri last October and subsequently deported to Mexico in March, the American citizen made the difficult decision to relocate to Mexico with their two young daughters rather than separate her family. Their situation reflects a growing challenge faced by an estimated 1. 1 million Americans married to undocumented immigrants, as the Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement since January 2025.

Who is affected

Janie Pérez (American citizen) and her husband Alejandro Pérez (deported undocumented immigrant)
Their two young daughters, Luna and Lexie
An estimated 1.1 million US citizens married to undocumented persons
Raegan Klein (American citizen) and Alfredo Linares (undocumented Mexican immigrant who voluntarily relocated)
Undocumented immigrants in the US, particularly those in mixed-status marriages
Young men in Mexico's Michoacán region facing criminal recruitment

What action is being taken

President Trump's administration is implementing increased detentions and deportations of illegal immigrants
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting deportation operations
Janie Pérez is currently living in Querétaro, Mexico with her husband and daughters
Raegan Klein and Alfredo Linares are living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Alfredo is working as an independent chef offering dinners for small groups in Mexico

Why it matters

This situation highlights the human cost of immigration enforcement on American families, forcing citizens to choose between keeping their families together or remaining in their home country. The mixed-status marriage issue affects over a million American citizens whose spouses face deportation despite their marital bond, revealing a significant gap in immigration law where undocumented individuals who entered unlawfully cannot easily obtain legal status through marriage. The administration's crackdown demonstrates that deportations are affecting not only individuals with criminal records but also long-term residents with clean records who have built lives and families in the United States, fundamentally disrupting American households and forcing difficult relocations.

What's next

Raegan Klein and Alfredo Linares have a goal to open a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, though they currently lack the initial investment financing needed to start the business.

Read full article from source: BBC