According to his lawyer, Espinoza first attempted to enter the U.S. illegally in 2009. He was caught at the border and returned to his native country, but later that year successfully managed to get into the U.S. with his wife, Dulce. Espinoza has been working as a mason and living in West Haven, and he and his wife now have three young children who were born in the country and are U.S. citizens.