Niraj Warikoo

Detroit Free Press

Mario Hernandez-Delacruz, 44, an undocumented immigrant living in Detroit whose case has been supported by community advocates, was deported today to Mexico.

Speaking to the Free Press by phone from Mexico, Hernandez-Delacruz said he arrived in Cancun and will be living with his sister. He said he missed his family back in southwest Detroit, where he lived with his wife and three daughters.

"I'm feeling bad right now," he said. "I feel bad ... to leave my family and children. It's not easy."

"My plan is to stay in Cancun" area, where he has family members. "I don't know for how long I'm staying here. This is my family now."

He was born in Chiapas, a state in southern Mexico, and in 1998, crossed the border into Texas with his wife and 4-year-old daughter without permission.

This morning, Hernandez-Delacruz was dropped off at Detroit Metro Airport by his oldest daughter, Estrella Hernandez-Garcia. Two federal immigrants agents accompanied him at the airport to make sure he boarded the plane for Mexico, his daughter said.

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"It really hasn't hit met yet," said his daughter. "I feel like he's going to walk through the door again," like he's just away for work and will be back home tonight.

But for now, her father, who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years, is gone. Hernandez-Delacruz is one of many undocumented immigrants increasingly being deported as a new administration cracks down on those living in the U.S. without proper authorization, even those with no criminal records, like Hernandez-Delacruz.

Hernandez-Delacruz started his own carpet business, paid income tax every year, contributed to a Pentecostal church he attends and supported a family.

In the past, cases like his were not a priority for deportation, but that changed after Donald Trump became president.

"It's affected us a lot emotionally," said Hernandez-Garcia.

Hernandez-Delacruz said he's hoping to get back to the U.S. One possibility he and his attorneys have mentioned is getting a U visa, which is for victims of crime who assist police in their investigations. A few years ago, they had a robbery at their home, which could qualify them for a U visa if they're able to get a copy of the police report and the approval of a police officer who said they assisted in the investigation of the crime.

To read more about Mario's story, click here:

Immigrant dad in Detroit fears being split from his family

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or 313-223-4792. Follow him on Twitter @nwarikoo