Full Breakdown
Demands for the Return of a Deaf Child Deported to Colombia
3/7/2026, 10:09:14 PM
Overview of the Incident
California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond has called for the immediate return of six-year-old Joseph Rodriguez, a deaf child who was deported to Colombia alongside his mother, Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, and his five-year-old brother. The family was detained during a routine immigration check-in at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in San Francisco on March 3, 2026. They had been living in the United States for four years after fleeing an abusive relationship in Colombia.
Background and Context
Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and her children were seeking asylum in the U.S. after escaping threats from a violent gang associated with her former partner. Despite having filed an asylum application, which was initially rejected, Gutierrez was placed under a supervision order requiring her to check in regularly with ICE. During their check-in, the family was unexpectedly detained and subsequently deported, raising concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers and the handling of vulnerable individuals by immigration authorities.
Key Figures Involved
- Tony Thurmond: California State Superintendent, advocating for the child's return.
- Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez: Mother of Joseph, who was seeking asylum in the U.S.
- Nikolas De Bremaeker: Immigration attorney representing the family, who criticized ICE's handling of the case.
Official Statements & Responses
Thurmond expressed deep concern over the deportation, stating, “No child should be ripped from their home community and hidden in a detention center, especially not a Deaf child who is being deprived of the ability to communicate and understand what is happening to him.” He urged newly appointed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to intervene and facilitate the family's return. The California School for the Deaf also released a statement emphasizing the importance of providing a supportive educational environment for Joseph.
In contrast, the Department of Homeland Security defended ICE's actions, stating that Gutierrez had received due process and chose to be removed with her children. They emphasized that families are not separated during deportation processes.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics, including De Bremaeker, have condemned the deportation as inhumane, particularly given Joseph's need for assistive hearing devices, which he was denied during detention. De Bremaeker noted the chaotic communication from ICE, claiming that attorneys were misled about the family's whereabouts, complicating efforts to contest the deportation. He described the situation as a violation of due process, stating, “This is no way for a democracy to work.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
There are discrepancies regarding the family's legal status and the circumstances of their deportation. While ICE maintains that Gutierrez was in violation of immigration laws, advocates argue that her claims of domestic abuse and her child's disability should have warranted further consideration and protection under asylum laws.
What's Next
The California education community and state officials are mobilizing to advocate for Joseph's return, emphasizing the critical need for access to education and medical support. Legal representatives are preparing emergency appeals to contest the deportation and seek the family's reintegration into the U.S.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a student who needs access to medical devices, hearing aids, and he needs to be in a program where he can receive support and care — not in some detention center, not in some cell living in squalor and poor conditions.” — Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent
- “It’s incredibly cruel to rip a child, as they are thriving and not only using the assistive devices that they need … out of this incredibly brave and strong progress that he has made,” — Nikolas De Bremaeker, Immigration Attorney
- “Lesly did exactly what the government asked of her — she showed up to a scheduled immigration check-in in good faith and instead was taken away into custody along with her children,” — Jeannette Zanipatin, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles
