A Texas mother, Jessica Treviño Villegas, 34, is taking legal action against the federal government to secure her immediate return to the United States following her deportation to Mexico. Villegas, who lived in Alamo, Texas, was deported in March despite having authorization to remain in the country through April 2027 under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Villegas, who arrived in the U.S. at age 7, raised three teenagers who are U.S. citizens. ‘I have lived in this country since I was a little girl,’ she stated. ‘Since applying for DACA 14 years ago, I have followed every rule and renewed my status, believing this country would protect my family and me. Instead, I was separated from my children, and now the government seeks to remove the protections meant to keep me here.’
Villegas was detained in December by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents in South Texas. She was held in custody and placed into removal proceedings. A voluntary departure order was issued in February, with a March 19 deadline, but she remained detained until her deportation on March 25, according to her lawsuit.
Petitioner was in valid DACA status at the time she was removed. Petitioner cannot be lawfully removed while in DACA status.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, names DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons. It demands Villegas’ ‘immediate return’ to the U.S. due to her unlawful removal. Last week, DHS sent Villegas a notice to terminate her DACA, citing ‘unauthorized travel’ on the day she was deported.
Villegas maintained her DACA status since age 20, allowing her to stay in the U.S. and work without conferring legal status. DACA recipients must keep a clean record and cannot travel abroad. ‘My children need their mother and I need them,’ Villegas expressed. ‘I will keep fighting to come home.’
DHS officials argued that Villegas’ husband lacked permission to be in the U.S. when arrested after a vehicle collision with a DHS vehicle. She accepted voluntary departure and waived her appeal, according to officials. ‘She left the U.S. on March 25, 2026, and will not return,’ stated an agency representative.
Villegas’ attorney, David Rozas, stated, ‘Her DACA remains valid through April 2027. The government had no lawful basis to remove her, and we filed this petition to demand she be brought back home.’
Immigration rights advocates say Villegas’ case highlights a systematic effort targeting DACA recipients. Tania Chavez, executive director of La Unión del Pueblo Entero, insisted, ‘Jessica was violently detained and illegally deported. Her ongoing DACA status should have offered protection.’
Chavez emphasized the community’s support: ‘Jessica’s persistence over the past seven months has been inspiring. We stand with her as efforts continue to ensure her safe return home.’