A California woman struck a chord with social media this week when she shared a gut-wrenching video that documented her and her family saying goodbye to her mother as she headed to Mexico amid the ICE raids. The woman named Julie revealed that mom decided to “self-deport” because she no longer felt safe living in the United States, and was worried that she would eventually be deported in a traumatic fashion.
In the TikTok video, Julie revealed that her mother had lived in the U.S. for 36 years and decided to move back to Mexico from California. In the clips, Julie’s mother can be seen saying goodbye to her loved ones, including her own husband.
“My stepdad is staying behind and he’ll join her in a couple of months. They’ve been together for 25 years,” Julie says in a voiceover.
The family drove from Los Angeles to Tijuana to drop the mother and grandmother off at the airport, where she would then fly to Mexico City. However, heartbreak came earlier than they predicted when 90 minutes into the trip, Julie’s sister realized that she had forgotten her passport. She sobbed as she hugged her mother goodbye and turned around to rush home to get it. Thankfully, she eventually caught up with the family and was able to see her mother off at the airport.
California Family Says Goodbye To Mother Who Opted To Self-Deport Amid ICE Raids
The family made it to the airport with three hours to spare, so they waited for her flight. Julie’s mother did her hair and makeup before boarding her flight, and made her kids promise not to cry as she took off to see her family back in Mexico City.
“My mom is leaving behind three grown kids and three grandchildren. We are doing this all while some of the biggest ICE raids are going on back home,” Julie continues. “With my mom’s complicated legal status she decided to do this on her own terms.”
Julie went on to reveal that her mother has “no criminal record,” and is a hard-working taxpayer who never received government benefits.
“This was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Julie says, revealing that she felt she needed to stay strong as the “eldest sister.”
However, there is one silver lining to the story. Julie revealed that her mother hasn’t seen her own mother in more than 20 years, and that they’re not finally reunited. Julie’s mom is now going “back home to retire,” which was always her plan. However, the ICE raids may have just sped up the process a bit. “I have a good feeling that this is going to be good for her,” Julie added.
In the caption of the video, Julie says that her mother made the decision to self-deport “months ago,” however, it’s still heartbreaking for the family. “I’d rather see her leave than live in fear,” she wrote.
Of course, the comment section was full of emotion after watching the TikTok. Julie even caught the attention of actress Kerry Washington.
“Wow. This is SO powerful. Thank you for sharing this. Sending love to you and your family,” Washington commented.
Now, Julie and her family are forced to continue their lives in California without their mother, who made the decision to take control of her own destiny during a polarizing time in the United States.
