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Guatemalan mother detained by ICE despite requesting deportation, family leaving U.S.

Jun 18, 2025 · Manassas, VA, Guatemala

Claudia Alvarenga España, a Guatemalan woman living in Manassas, Virginia, with her husband Jhoan Mesen and four U.S.-born children, was taken into ICE custody on June 3, 2025, during a required check-in at an ICE office in Chantilly while pursuing withholding of removal protection. She fled Guatemala in 2010 to escape domestic abuse and human trafficking, has no criminal record, and was in compliance with her order of supervision. Despite a federal judge's order prohibiting her removal, she was deported to Guatemala on June 10 but returned to the U.S. the next day after a Guatemalan official informed her of a pending hearing. She has since requested voluntary deportation and remains in ICE detention in Texas with no clear timeline for processing her request. Unable to endure continued family separation, her husband announced in mid-June that the family has decided to voluntarily leave the United States and relocate to Costa Rica to reunite with her, ending their 15-year residence, and has begun preparations to sell their home.

Timeline

Jun 18, 2025After two weeks in detention, husband announced family has decided to voluntarily relocate to Costa Rica to reunite with Alvarenga España and sell their home
Jun 11, 2025Returned to the U.S. after Guatemalan official informed her of pending hearing; placed in ICE detention in Texas
Jun 10, 2025Deported to Guatemala despite federal judge's order prohibiting her removal
Jun 3, 2025Claudia Alvarenga España detained by ICE during required check-in at ICE office in Chantilly, Virginia, while pursuing withholding of removal protection

Sources

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