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Giovanni detained six months for refusing voluntary departure to El Salvador

Oct 1, 2025 · San Fernando Valley, CA, El Salvador

Giovanni detained six months for refusing voluntary departure to El Salvador

Giovanni, a 48-year-old car wash worker in the San Fernando Valley, was detained in October 2025 along with three coworkers during a federal immigration raid. Unlike his coworkers who were deported to Mexico within 24 hours, Giovanni refused to sign voluntary departure documents and was held at Adelanto ICE Processing Center for six months rather than return to El Salvador. His detention left his wife Maria and school-age children without his primary income.

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