It didn't take much time to deport Jackie Cardenas.
For the San Antonio-based wife, who is also a mother of two young children and a stepmother to her husband Robert Joseph Cardenas' 19-year-old son, it lasted approximately 10 hours.
On that March morning, she departed from her residence on the Northeast Side, entered her vehicle, and headed towards her waitressing position at the Molino Rojo Café located on Nacogdoches Road. She had been employed there for thirteen years.
Shortly after her departure, she got stopped by the police.
She was familiar with several of the ICE Agents who intercepted her frequently dined at the eatery. They informed her that they were searching for her male cousin.
They were unaware that he had returned to Honduras years earlier and passed away.
Jackie and her spouse think the agents were monitoring their house that day. Robert expressed his opinion of the head agent with a colorful term.
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Around 6 a.m., she was taken into custody, handcuffed, and then moved to an immigration detention center close to Nacogdoches Road.
Around 6:30 a.m., Robert received an unexpected call from a nearby number he did not recognize.
He has been working in construction for many years and drives an Uber at night. The only individual who contacts him so early is Jackie.
Their marriage has quite an extensive history — and so does each immigrant's journey. journey —but he mentions that he instantly experienced discomfort in the center of his abdomen.
His wife crossed the border into the United States illegally — and had a 2017 deportation order against her — but the couple hired an attorney to work on getting her immigration status legalized.
It's a challenging and costly procedure, yet Jackie achieved multiple landmarks — a provisional work permit, a Social Security card, and a Texas driver’s license.
He still can't comprehend how she managed to do it, but she also sponsored another immigrant.
Jackie and her legal representative were attempting to get her work visa renewed, according to her spouse, but they found themselves ensnared in red tape. Should you have experienced a sense of neglect from your attorney regarding your case, this was how Jackie and her husband perceived their situation.
Robert, especially.
In federal matters like these, there are no excuses, yet an immigration officer previously exercised his discretionary power for Jackie. In 2017, she went to South Padre Island accompanied by some friends and one of her young daughters.
She felt too at ease and had no idea there was an immigration checkpoint in Sarita along Interstate 37.
This resulted in deportation orders; however, the agent permitted her and her U.S.-born daughter to return home to San Antonio.
Life moved forward. She continued her work and tied the knot with Robert. They purchased a home (which is under her name), acquired multiple vehicles, and never became a financial strain on anybody.
A few months back, they set up an LLC for an irrigation landscaping business which the duo intended to run. His background includes being part of a large clan of business owners.
He's a large fellow who easily sheds tears when sharing his tale. "She's my closest confidante," he stated.
He remembered frequently going to the eatery where his future spouse was employed. She would adorn his boy's pancakes with whipped cream.
They'd gaze into each other’s eyes. They crossed paths towards the close of 2018 and quickly formed a partnership, eventually tying the knot in 2020.
Similar to countless other immigrants who find themselves in the United States, Jackie’s journey is intricate. She approached the border and entered unlawfully alongside a smuggler whom she both knew and trusted.
A defining trait of numerous immigrants such as herself is their strong work ethic. Additionally, they contribute through paying taxes and aspire to build improved lives for themselves.
Most of them do not align with the far-right's political storyline.
The early morning phone call was particularly difficult for Robert. She mentioned something along the lines of, "I heard I might be able to meet with you just once again."
It seemed foreboding. By 4:30 p.m. that same day, she boarded a flight departing from Houston bound for Honduras.
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He finds so many of the events confusing.
It amazes me how the system permits such actions," he commented about the swift deportations. "She most certainly does not deserve this.
He is similarly puzzled by a paper "granting me custody or something along those lines," as he mentioned. Despite this, he hasn't adopted his daughters yet, but they still affectionately refer to him as "Daddy."
"They are my little ones," he stated.
They believe their mom is away on a trip.
During our conversation over the phone, she ended up crying. Her husband mentioned that this isn't typical for her; usually, she's the strong one.
"We have taken the appropriate steps to avoid being in this situation," he stated.
She’s traumatized. "I long for my family," she mentioned.
They think she didn't get proper justice, as the deportation occurred too rapidly, leaving her with no opportunity to argue for staying.
Her attorney informs her that the procedure for coming back might take between three to four years.
Some will argue that Jackie received precisely what she deserved, as she violated the law.
The difference between them and Jackie — the Honduran who pays Bexar County property taxes, was about to start a business and is beloved by her regulars — is that she has empathy.
“She said, ‘I wouldn’t want this on anyone,’” expressing her concern.
Check out Elaine Ayala’s podcast "¡Nosotros!" on YouTube or wherever you typically download your podcasts.
