A Texas mother, Jessica Treviño Villegas, deported to Mexico is suing the U.S. government for her immediate return. Though she had permission to remain in the U.S. until 2027 under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, she was deported in March. Her legal team filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Villegas moved to the U.S. from Mexico at age 7 and was living in Alamo, Texas. Her three children, U.S. citizens, are expected to return to school soon. ‘I have lived here since childhood,’ she stated, emphasizing her adherence to DACA rules. Despite following protocol, she was separated from her family when deported.

Arrested in December, Villegas was detained by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents. She accepted a ‘voluntary departure’ order with a March 19 deadline but remained in custody until her deportation on March 25. The lawsuit argues her removal was unlawful as she had valid DACA status, which supposedly protected her from deportation.

The lawsuit names DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, seeking an order for Villegas’ return due to her unjust removal. A DHS notice last week indicated plans to terminate her DACA status, blaming unauthorized travel on her deportation day.

Villegas secured her DACA status at 20, a status granting temporary relief and work permits without legal residency. Her removal contradicts DACA’s intent, her attorney David Rozas argues, declaring her deportation baseless.

DHS claims Villegas’ husband was in the U.S. unlawfully when both were arrested following an incident with a Homeland Security vehicle. According to DHS, she conceded to voluntary departure, thus waiving appeal rights. They assert she left the U.S. voluntarily in March 2026 and cannot return.

Advocates link Villegas’ situation to broader DACA recipient targeting. Tania Chavez from La Unión del Pueblo Entero criticized the tactics leading to her deportation, describing them as violent and illegal. ‘The agencies charged with overseeing immigration failed Jessica,’ Chavez stated, vowing support for Villegas’ return.