Deported Goleta grandmother to return to US by humanitarian parole

GOLETA, Calif. – Juana Flores, a Goleta mother and grandmother who was deported to Mexico two years ago, will be allowed to return back to her family in the United States.

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced that Flores will be able to return through humanitarian parole.

Humanitarian parole allows individuals who are otherwise inadmissible into the United States the ability to enter the country for a temporary period of time, based on humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. 

Flores was deported by the Trump Administration in April 2019 after living in the United States for over 30 years in Santa Barbara County with her husband, 10 children and 18 grandchildren. 

Her son is Sgt. Caesar Flores, an active duty military member serving in the United States Air Force. Caesar has been vocal about the hardships his family has faced after his mother's deportation.

Juana's humanitarian parole will last one year beginning this Friday, June 4.

Carbajal says he will continue working to advance the Protect Patriot Parents Act in order to remove barriers that prevent parents of service members, like Juana, from applying for Legal Permanent Residency.