An Oregon couple were detained by ICE on Dec. 8 and deported to Mexico within eight days, leaving their 2-year-old U.S.-born daughter Sofía in Hillsboro with her aunt. The aunt quit her job to care for the child and started a GoFundMe to cover immediate needs, while local nonprofit Adelante Mujeres has provided support. The parents say they were dropped off in Nogales and later returned to Veracruz after receiving temporary help at a migrant shelter. The case has intensified local fears about immigration enforcement and family separations.
Oregon Parents Deported by ICE, 2-Year-Old U.S. Citizen Left With Relatives: 'A Living Nightmare'
GoFundMeMiguel Garcia Pazaran and Dulce Maria Trejo Segura with their daughter
An Oregon couple, Miguel Garcia Pazaran, 26, and his wife Dulce Maria Trejo Segura, 27, were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 8 and deported to Mexico within eight days, family members say. Their 2-year-old daughter, Sofía, a U.S. citizen, was left behind in Hillsboro and is now being cared for by the child’s aunt.
What Happened
According to family accounts reported locally, Garcia Pazaran was driving Trejo Segura to her shift at a snack production plant in Forest Grove when immigration agents stopped the vehicle. Witnesses described him as wearing pajamas and house slippers at the time. The couple were transferred to a detention center in Tacoma, Washington, and deported back to Mexico within eight days.
Family Left Behind
The couple’s daughter Sofía remained in Hillsboro with the parents' sister-in-law, Maggie Garcia, who had been living with the family and sometimes helping with childcare. Trejo Segura called Maggie from custody and asked her to 'take care of Sofía.' Maggie later quit her job at a building materials warehouse so she can care for the toddler full time.
'It’s like a living nightmare, we are devastated,' Maggie Garcia told local reporters. 'We need to find a solution to reunite them as soon as possible.'
Immediate Needs and Support
Maggie launched a GoFundMe to cover rent, utilities, diapers and other basics for Sofía. The local nonprofit Adelante Mujeres in Forest Grove has been helping provide food and essentials. Because Maggie does not have the legal documents required to travel with the child to Mexico, a friend who is a lawful permanent resident plans to travel and attempt to reunite the family.
GettyAn ICE agent in uniform
Parents' Experience After Deportation
Family members said the couple were dropped off in Nogales, Sonora, and spent a night in a migrant shelter after reportedly having money and identification documents confiscated. They said the parents went two days without food before receiving help at the shelter and later returned to their hometown in Veracruz.
Broader Community Concerns
The family's account comes amid heightened anxiety in the Hillsboro area about immigration enforcement. Residents gave emotional testimony at a Hillsboro City Council meeting about fears that ICE activity could separate families. One teenager told the council he is scared for his parents' safety when they leave for work.
Local reporters note the enforcement reflects broader federal immigration policy debates and has sparked controversy as communities weigh the human impact of deportation operations.
PEOPLE and other outlets reported on the story; attempts to reach ICE, the family and Adelante Mujeres for comment were noted in local coverage.
