New Jersey mother deported to Mexico after 30 years, leaving teenage daughter behind
Aug 5, 2025·Location: Atlantic City, NJ
Country of origin: Mexico

Patricia Balbuena Soto, a mother of three who had lived in New Jersey for approximately 30 years since age 19, was arrested on July 24, 2025, by Atlantic City Police on charges including criminal mischief and property damage. She was transferred to ICE custody on July 25, 2025, and deported to Mexico on August 5, 2025. According to DHS, Balbuena Soto had been previously removed from the country four times and illegally reentered a fifth time, which constituted a felony. Her 17-year-old daughter told Newsweek she felt alone after the separation and was forced to navigate daily life without her parent.
Timeline
Sources
- Mother of 3 in US for 30 years deported by ICE
Newsweek·Oct 1, 2025·archived copy
- Map shows where ICE most often detains parents of US children
Newsweek·May 19, 2026·archived copy
- Double tragedy: Kenyan man who recently lost dad facing deportation from the US
tuko.co.ke·Mar 16, 2026·archived copy
- Deployed Navy sailor wants her deported father to come home
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