Deportation of Single Father Raises Concerns Over Immigration Enforcement

Rosalio Vasquez Meave, a single father of six U.S. citizen children, was deported to Mexico after living in the United States for over 34 years. His arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) occurred on September 15, 2023, while he was dropping his children off at school. According to his attorney, Michelle Edstrom, Vasquez Meave had a valid work permit and was the sole caretaker of his children at the time of his arrest.

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The deportation of Vasquez Meave is part of a broader trend in immigration enforcement that has intensified under the Trump administration. The Department of Homeland Security reported over 605,000 deportations since January 20, 2021, with an additional 1.9 million individuals voluntarily self-deporting. Vasquez Meave had applied for a visa under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 2023, which is designed to protect individuals facing abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

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• Rosalio Vasquez Meave: A long-term resident of the U.S. who was self-employed and owned a home in Oklahoma. He was arrested while performing parental duties and had been in the process of applying for legal status.

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• Tricia McLaughlin: Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, who stated that pending applications do not confer legal status and that ICE had reinstated Vasquez Meave’s final order of removal.

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Michelle Edstrom, Vasquez Meave’s attorney, criticized the deportation, stating, “He’s not a fugitive or a criminal. He was taking his children to school... There was no reason to separate him from his children and deport him the way they did.” In contrast, Tricia McLaughlin asserted that Vasquez Meave received full due process and emphasized that ICE does not separate families unless parents choose to be removed with their children.

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Critics of the deportation have raised concerns about the impact on families, particularly in cases where one parent is the primary caregiver. Edstrom highlighted that Vasquez Meave was not given the option to travel with his children, which she argues contradicts McLaughlin's statement about family separation policies.

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There is a discrepancy regarding the options provided to Vasquez Meave at the time of his deportation. While McLaughlin stated that parents can control their departure with the CBP Home app, Edstrom contends that Vasquez Meave was not offered this choice.

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Following the deportation, Edstrom indicated that efforts are underway to seek congressional assistance for Vasquez Meave’s VAWA petition, aiming to address the legal and familial challenges he faces after his removal from the U.S.

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• “pending applications do not confer legal status.” — Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security

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• “ICE does not separate families,” — Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security

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The case of Rosalio Vasquez Meave underscores the complexities and emotional toll of immigration enforcement policies, particularly on families with U.S. citizen children.

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