Trump Administration Ordered to Return DACA Recipient Deported to Mexico
WASHINGTON — A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to return Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, a California resident with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, to the United States after she was deported to Mexico last month. U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins in Sacramento ruled that the deportation was a “flagrant violation” of Estrada Juarez’s legal protections and her Fifth Amendment rights.
Details of the Ruling
Judge Coggins directed the government to reinstate Estrada Juarez’s DACA protections “as if her Feb. 19, 2026 removal never occurred.” The judge found that immigration authorities acted unlawfully when they deported Estrada Juarez within a day of her scheduled immigration appointment in Sacramento. Lawyers for the government had argued the court lacked jurisdiction and that the removal was a discretionary decision, arguments the judge deemed “unavailing.”
Estrada Juarez’s Case
Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, 42, has lived in the U.S. For nearly 30 years, having arrived at age 15. She has maintained continuous DACA status since 2013 and was applying for legal permanent residency through her 22-year-old U.S. Citizen daughter, Damaris Bello. Estrada Juarez worked as a regional manager for Motel 6.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attempted to justify the deportation by citing a reinstated expedited removal order from 1998. However, Estrada Juarez’s lawyer, Stacy Tolchin, argued that the original order lacked proper supervisory approval and was therefore invalid. Tolchin stated that Estrada Juarez never appeared before an immigration judge in 1998, contradicting previous statements made by DHS.
Broader Implications for DACA Recipients
This case highlights a growing trend of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arresting and deporting DACA recipients, despite the program’s protections. In 2025, ICE arrested hundreds of DACA recipients, with at least 86 being deported. The ruling comes after President Donald Trump unsuccessfully attempted to eliminate the DACA program during his first term.
California has the largest population of DACA recipients in the U.S., with approximately 144,000 “Dreamers” residing in the state, according to federal data. As of June 2025, there were over 515,000 DACA recipients nationwide.
Congressional Response
Estrada Juarez’s deportation sparked outrage among members of Congress, including Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), who demanded her return. Tolchin filed a lawsuit seeking Estrada Juarez’s return on March 10, 2026.
Estrada Juarez expressed her relief, stating, “I am overwhelmed with relief and hope after learning about the court’s decision. Being separated from my daughter and my home has been incredibly painful. I followed the rules and trusted the process and I just want to return to my family and rebuild my life.”