A Colombian Couple Lived In The U.S. For 35 Years; They Were Deported After a Regular Check-In With Immigration Officials

What looked like a routine appointment with immigration officials quickly became Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez' worst nightmare, as the couple was suddenly arrested and taken to detention facilities 35 years after moving from Colombia and settling down in Southern California.

The couple moved to the U.S. without the proper documentation and settled in Newport Beach, less than 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles. They raised three daughters, all U.S. citizens, who are now trying to get their parents back home.

"You never think that it could happen to you and my parents were just ripped away from me like that," Gabby Gonzalez, one of the couple's daughters told KTLA 5 News. "Then this happened on Feb. 21. I didn't even know they had the appointment and I didn't even say goodbye to my dad that morning. I didn't get to say goodbye to them," she added.

The Gonzalez sisters told the outlet that their parents were detained at their Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appointment and were held at the Adelanto detention center in San Bernardino County. They were then transported to other detention facilities in Arizona and Louisiana.

"They were put into handcuffs by their wrists and ankles and treated as criminals before getting to these detention centers," Stephanie Gonzalez told KTLA 5 News.

Gabby Gonzales, the youngest of the three sisters, said their parents called to let them know they were being held in Arizona. "She kind of sounded a bit muffled because it's a traumatizing experience," she added.

According to The Orange County Register, the couple originally entered the U.S. without authorization and had been ordered to leave the country in 2000 after an immigration judge granted them voluntary departure. A spokesperson for ICE told the outlet that Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez had "exhausted all legal options to remain in the U.S. between March 2000 and August 2021" and were ultimately in violation of immigration laws.

Having been held at a detention center for weeks, the sisters told media members that their parents are now free and remain in Colombia, where their dad has family that has helped them settle to their new lives.

Just like the Gonzalez family, many others have been affected by President Donald Trump's mass deportation plans. Initially, Trump emphasized a focus on removing undocumented immigrants with criminal records or pending charges. But according to an analysis by NBC News, that hasn't been the case as 41% of the more than 4,000 individuals detained by ICE during the first two weeks of February had no criminal history.

Following the deportation of their parents, the three sisters set up a GoFundMe page to help with legal expenses and to support their parents while they rebuild their lives in Colombia.