Philadelphia father accepts deportation to Bolivia after five months in ICE custody
Jan 23, 2026·Location: Philadelphia, PA
Country of origin: Bolivia

Johny Merida Aguilara, an undocumented immigrant detained by ICE in September 2024, accepted deportation to Bolivia after nearly five months in custody. His wife, Gimena Morales Antezana, and their three U.S. citizen children plan to depart with him this month. The family's decision comes after financial hardship and the need to care for their 5-year-old son who has brain cancer, autism, and severe feeding difficulties. Aguilara's family lawyer won a temporary deportation stay in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, but the family chose voluntary departure amid mounting economic pressures and uncertainty over pending asylum and T visa applications.
Sources
- ‘He reached his limit.’ Immigrant father of 5-year-old with brain cancer accepts deportation to Bolivia after months in ICE detention.
- Immigrant father of 5-year-old with brain cancer accepts deportation to Bolivia after months in ICE custody.
medianewssource.com·Jan 23, 2026·archived copy
- 費城父遭ICE關5個月 選擇全家遣返玻利維亞 | 世界新聞網
worldjournal.com·Jan 27, 2026·archived copy
- CourtListener
- Morales v. Albarran, 3:26-cv-10973
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