A Florida woman is calling out state and federal leaders after learning that the mother of a local restaurant owner in Pensacola has been ordered to self-deport. In her TikTok video, she questioned how a family known for their generosity toward service members could face such an outcome.
According to the woman, who lives in a heavily military area of Florida where many residents have ties to the armed forces, a restaurant called Tacos El Fluffy had been serving free meals to service members during the government shutdown. The restaurant is owned by a man named Gio Zelaya, and his mother has lived in the United States for two decades under a valid work permit.
Recently, however, when she attempted to renew it, the request was denied and she was instructed to self-deport. “This restaurant, who has been serving our community for free out of the kindness of their hearts, is now having their mother face a situation where she has to self-deport in the coming days,” the woman said. “You literally have a community that is coming together, a restaurant that is taking money out of their own pockets to feed our service members. And your priority is to have this woman taken out of this country?”
The woman added that the restaurant owner’s mother “is not a hardened criminal,” and that “her family is literally feeding service members for free” because the government cannot get their act together. She ended her message by urging viewers to help raise awareness. “I’m asking anyone who sees this video to share it because these are the types of people that are being deported… It’s not right and it’s the opposite of what being in America should be.”
Here’s What Netizens Had to Say About the Florida Woman’s Plea
Many people were heartbroken over the situation and felt that the Trump administration would not do anything to prevent her deportation. “Thank you for standing up for this family, this woman, and for doing what is right. This administration doesn’t give a damn about these people,” one comment read. Another echoed that sentiment, writing, “This administration is not military friendly, only billionaire friendly.” A third added, “Unfortunately, that is where kindness gets you these days.”
One netizen also wrote, “This movement is not about getting criminals out of our country. It has been about ethnic cleansing,” while another said, “They aren’t after criminals. Look at where they go to conduct their raids. They’re after the workers, and it’s sad.”
However, a few voices in the comment section took a different stance, arguing that the law must still be followed. “What do people not understand about immigration law? If you are not a citizen you are here as a guest, and that privilege can be revoked at any time,” one person commented. Someone else asked, “So if the offspring do good, we should forgive the previous generation’s wrongdoing? Does that apply to everyone?” A different netizen added, “Unfortunately, laws work that way… Your rationing isn’t rationing.”
