What the Response to This Father Being Deported Reveals About the U.S.

When I woke up this morning and checked my social media feeds, I was floored by the flood of emotions I saw from friends and acquaintances posting a Washington Post story titled “A Michigan father, too old for DACA, is deported after three decades in the U.S.”

The story itself is a heartbreaking account of 39-year-old Jorge Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who was just deported back to Mexico after three decades in the United States, working as a landscaper in Michigan and raising two kids (a 15-year-old daughter and 12-year-old-son) with his wife. Due to President Trump’s crackdown on immigration, Garcia’s family has been unable to find a way for him to gain legal status and, instead, had a teary-eyed goodbye at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, according to the Washington Post.

“It’s just a nightmare,” Cindy Garcia, his wife, told the Detroit News after her husband walked through the airport scanners. “You can’t even put it into words how it feels.”

It’s a truly sad tale of how families all across the U.S. are being torn apart due to the immigration crackdown. Although we are still waiting to hear what happens with DACA ever since Trump suspended the program in September, the slightly good news right now is that the response to the Washington Post story has given me new hope about the way others view immigrants in the United States of America.

Overwhelmingly, those sharing this story are angry at President Trump and offering their best in support of immigrants. Here are just a few of their responses on Twitter:

I've gained much respect for you for being truthful about what was said in the meeting. Immigration need to be fixed but not on the backs of good law abiding citizens, like Jorge Garcia @LindseyGrahamSC

— Tonya Kemp (@cc1e86930cc34c6) January 16, 2018

Law-abiding citizens like Jorge Garcia should get to stay, period.

https://twitter.com/ktpunkpixie/status/953370683270189061

Some have started (and are signing) a Move On petition.

Jorge Garcia. Say his name. He was deported yesterday. https://t.co/92NWhBsZWv

— Jane Smith (@mustelina) January 16, 2018

Never forget the heartbreak… and then do something about it.

@realDonaldTrump tell me how Jorge Garcia is a rapist, murderer, drug dealer? I'll wait. All I hear is crickets and hate from you https://t.co/YM1uGpMCGW

— Joanne Dalle (@joanne_dalle) January 16, 2018

Calling out the President is fair game.

.@SenateDems @HouseDemocrats Hammer the GOP on Jorge Garcia. Run footage. Talk about it every day. Be tough. Stand up for OUR values
#NoDreamersNoDeal

— sαrα 🫶🌊⚾🎶🌻☕ (@Romare) January 16, 2018

Here’s hoping Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants get their chance.

Here’s what he said…

Heartbreaking & Infuriating.

Jorge Garcia has lived in the United States since he was 10 years old.

As Trump tweets his love of Dr. King, he deported Jorge today – ripping him away from his wife & kids.

— 🇺🇸Patriot-BillyNC🇺🇸 (@DeplorableBbob) January 16, 2018

We’re heartbroken by this, too.

@SenFeinstein Is Democracy in America dead?! Where is the heart in America anymore?!!!
Jorge Garcia,a family man, gets deported after 30 years in the US?!!

— Deej (@Smurfdeej) January 16, 2018

Yes, we’re outraged.

Dear @VicenteFoxQue, have you seen the news about Detroit's Jorge Garcia? Brought to the U.S. from Mexico 30 years ago at age 10. Worked, paid taxes, has a wife and 2 teen kids, and our #ShitholePresident just had him deported. Please see if you can help him unite w his family.

— Robert Phipps (@TruthOuter) January 16, 2018

Some are reaching out to others who can do more.

https://twitter.com/dafazzi/status/953368500608913414

Nobody wants to see families torn apart.

https://twitter.com/bphotography66/status/953368122240663552

We hope the best for him and his family…