Goleta Grandmother forced to deport to Mexico gives update on how her life has changed

The Goleta grandmother who made national headlines when she was forced to deport back to Mexico spoke with NewsChannel 3’s Alys Martinez about adjusting to her new life.

Juana Maria Flores has been living in Aguascalientes just north of Mexico City for about a month.

Although her husband has been with her during this time of transition, he has American citizenship and will eventually have to return home, leaving her alone.

Flores and her husband Andres told us they do not leave their home very often, especially after dark.

“En la noche hay pandillas que pelean entre ellos,” he said. (At night, there are gangs that fight each other)

Instead, the couple usually spends their days fixing up their small home.

Flores hasn’t found any work to be able to support herself in Mexico. The couple misses their family back in Goleta.

Flores left behind 10 children and 15 grandchildren when she was forced to deport.

Her family back home is still coping with their loss.

“The house is just really empty and there is not that brightness that there used to be,” said Juana’s granddaughter Andrea Gomez.

The family is hoping that a bill introduced by Congressman Salud Carbajal will pass through Congress quickly.

The bill would make parents of military servicemembers eligible for immigration status adjustment.

Since Flores’ youngest son, Cesar, is currently serving in the U.S. Airforce, the family is hopeful that the bill will be a helpful solution.

Flores says she’ll have to have patience until the law changes.

Flores’ husband isn’t sure when he’ll return to the U.S. because he does have business here. However, he believes it just isn’t safe for his wife to be alone in Aguascalientes.