Florida Pastor’s Wife Deported to Mexico After Nearly Three Decades in the U.S., Family Devastated

Maria Isidro

After living in the United States for nearly 30 years, a Florida mother, pastor’s wife, and beloved community member has been deported to Mexico, leaving her family heartbroken and speaking out against what they describe as unjust treatment.

Maria Isidro, who arrived in the U.S. from Mexico in 1998 to seek medical care for one of her children, was removed from the country last week after being held in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. Her daughter, Daniella Isidro, said Maria was shackled by her wrists, stomach, and ankles, resulting in visible bruises.

“This is a woman who is loved by a huge community — a pastor’s wife, a nana, a wita, and our mom,” Daniella said.

Maria had lived with her family in Live Oak, Florida, since her arrival and had complied with legal procedures for decades. Despite receiving a removal order in 2004, she was granted a discretionary “stay of deportation” for years while working through her citizenship process and meeting consistently with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In 2023, she was approved for an I-130 petition — a family-based immigration benefit — meant to help her secure legal residency. However, on June 3, 2025, after being summoned for an early check-in, Maria was detained by ICE and later deported.

According to her family, Maria was transferred three times within the U.S. before being flown from Texas to Matamoros, Mexico — over 1,500 miles away from her Florida home. The 15-hour journey was grueling. She described the experience as dehumanizing: detainees were given little food or water, allowed only one bathroom break, and remained shackled throughout the flight. Her belongings were thrown at her feet in a mesh bag.

“I started to cry,” Maria said. “My whole life is in Florida. I would watch the news and say, ‘How could that happen?’ But I lived it. The people who were with me weren’t criminals. They weren’t people who hurt others.”

Maria’s deportation comes amid increased federal immigration enforcement targeting individuals deemed unlawfully present in the country. Her family emphasized that she has no criminal record and had always followed immigration procedures faithfully.

“She wasn’t taken by illness. She didn’t leave by choice,” her son Jo wrote. “My mother is a Christian woman. A preacher’s wife. A caregiver. A woman with no criminal record who’s always done things the right way. She showed up to every appointment. She trusted the system. And still, she was taken from us.”

Concerns have also been raised about Maria’s health. She is diabetic and, according to her family, did not receive her necessary medications while detained. Despite repeated outreach, DHS and ICE have not responded to requests for comment.

Representative Kat Cammack’s office confirmed they have an active case open with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Maria’s behalf but declined to provide specific details. Cammack said in a statement, “We are in communication with the appropriate federal agencies and will continue working to ensure that every case receives a fair, thorough, and timely review.”

Family friends and community members have rallied in support of Maria, emphasizing her contributions and humanity.

“She’s just being treated as though she’s not a human, as though she is a part of a statement — and that’s not the case,” said Logan Hurst, a family friend. “This is a person with a family and a community who loves her.”

Despite the traumatic experience, Maria has continued to tell her children to “stay strong” as they fight to raise awareness and seek justice for her case.