- Title: Mother of U.S. soldier is deported to Mexico amidst outcry
- Date: 3rd January 2020
- Summary: TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO (JANUARY 2, 2020) (REUTERS) MOTHER OF U.S. ARMY SOLDIER, ROCIO REBOLLAR GOMEZ IN TIJUANA AFTER CROSSING INTERNATIONAL BORDER AREA VARIOUS OF GOMEZ HUGGING FAMILY LARGE LETTERING NEAR BORDER THAT READS 'TIJUANA' GOMEZ WITH MEDIA GOMEZ SPEAKING TO MEDIA GOMEZ WITH HER MEXICAN PASSPORT GOMEZ WITH REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MOTHER OF U.S. ARMY SOLDIER, ROCIO REBOLLAR GOMEZ, SAYING: "I have never lost hope, including when I was brought here. I thought that I would be detained, I didn't think that I would be taken. I thought that I would be detained because my lawyer had told me that we were waiting for news. I thought, sometimes you're (in detention) for one or two days, even one or two hours is time for something to be done. But my intention was never to do nothing." GOMEZ WITH FAMILY MEMBERS GOMEZ BEING SUPPORTED BY FAMILY MEMBER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MOTHER OF U.S. ARMY SOLDIER, ROCIO REBOLLAR GOMEZ, SAYING: "It's ridiculous, it goes against the norms that the United States proclaims to the world. Where is the humanity? Where are the human resources that should protect military families? Imagine, if this happens to military families then what happens to everyone else." GOMEZ HUGGING FAMILY MEMBER VARIOUS OF GOMEZ WITH FAMILY LARGE LETTERING THAT READS 'TIJUANA' NEAR BORDER VARIOUS OF EXIT FROM BORDER CROSSING AREA
- Embargoed: 17th January 2020 00:41
- Keywords: Mexican national Mexico Tijuana deported deportee immigration mother soldier
- Location: TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
- City: TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001BUHB0HZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The mother of a U.S. army soldier was deported to Tijuana, Mexico on Thursday (January 02), despite appeals for her to stay in San Diego.
Rocio Rebollar Gomez, a Mexican national, had lived in the U.S. for 31 years and is the mother of three, including lieutenant Gibram Cruz.
Gomez had sought residency through a programme that protects relatives of soldiers whilst they serve, but she was reportedly denied in December.
According to reports, Gomez has no criminal history but has been deported from the U.S. before to later cross back illegally.
Supporters of Gomez have attempted to reach out to lawmakers to stave off the deportation.
(Production: Jorge Nieto, Josue Gonzalez, Paul Vieira) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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