Deaf Boy and Mother Deported from San Francisco Without Hearing Aids

A deaf boy was deported from San Francisco without his essential hearing aids, which cost thousands of dollars and are crucial for his development.
By Newsroom | Immigration, Human Rights |

SAN FRANCISCO – A six-year-old deaf boy, his mother, and his five-year-old sibling were abruptly deported to Colombia earlier this week. The family, identified as Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and her two sons, were taken into custody during a scheduled check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at their Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) appointment in San Francisco.

ICE Deports Deaf Six-Year-Old and His Mother Mid-Asylum Process, Leaving Him Without the Devices He Needs to Hear - 1

The immediate consequence of this expulsion is the child's separation from the assistive devices necessary for his hearing, leaving him without the tools essential for his communication and development. This critical oversight occurred despite the child's reliance on American Sign Language (ASL) as his primary mode of communication, learned over the past two years. A relative waiting outside the ICE office to hand over the boy's cochlear implant and other hearing aids was prevented from doing so before the family's swift removal.

Read More: Sanctuary Cities Face Federal Scrutiny Over Immigration Policies

ICE Deports Deaf Six-Year-Old and His Mother Mid-Asylum Process, Leaving Him Without the Devices He Needs to Hear - 2

A SYSTEM'S CRACKS EXPOSED

Attorneys for the family contend that the deportation proceeded despite the existence of a supervision order, which they argue should have provided a degree of protection against immediate removal. Nikolas De Bremaeker, managing attorney at the Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP), stated that Gutierrez, despite having a removal order, was compliant with her asylum process and should not have been expelled in this manner, as other forms of relief might have been available.

ICE Deports Deaf Six-Year-Old and His Mother Mid-Asylum Process, Leaving Him Without the Devices He Needs to Hear - 3

Reports suggest a further complication: allegations that ICE officials misdirected legal representatives attempting to locate the detained family. De Bremaeker indicated that attorneys were consistently informed the family was being held in different locations, hindering efforts to intervene or facilitate the transfer of the child's vital equipment.

ICE Deports Deaf Six-Year-Old and His Mother Mid-Asylum Process, Leaving Him Without the Devices He Needs to Hear - 4

The six-year-old, identified as Joseph Rodriguez by some reports, had been attending the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. State Superintendent Thurmond has publicly condemned the deportation, highlighting the significant detrimental impact this abrupt return to Colombia could have on the child's developmental trajectory.

Read More: Kerala Human Rights Commission Orders Pothole Repairs on Two Roads

The family's prior immigration history includes Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez filing an asylum application the year prior to these events. While a removal order was in place, the family's legal team maintains they were adhering to a supervision program that should have offered procedural safeguards.

ICE has not publicly responded to the specific allegations concerning the alleged misdirection of attorneys or the handling of the child's essential medical devices during the detention and deportation process. The incident has ignited widespread criticism online and from various California officials and educators, who are decrying the action as inhumane.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was a deaf boy and his mother deported from San Francisco this week?
A six-year-old deaf boy, his mother, and his younger sibling were deported to Colombia after a check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in San Francisco. The family had a removal order but was in a supervision program.
Q: What happened to the deaf boy's hearing aids during the deportation?
The six-year-old deaf boy was deported without his cochlear implant and other hearing aids. A relative waiting to give him the devices was not allowed to before the family was removed.
Q: How does losing his hearing aids affect the deaf boy?
The boy, who uses American Sign Language and relies on his hearing devices, is now in Colombia without the tools essential for his communication and development. He attended the California School for the Deaf.
Q: Were there any issues with the family's legal process before deportation?
The family's lawyers stated that ICE officials may have misdirected them, making it hard to intervene. They also argued that the mother was following her asylum process and should have had more protection before removal.
Q: What has been the reaction to the deportation of the deaf boy and his mother?
The State Superintendent and others have condemned the deportation, calling it inhumane and highlighting the negative impact on the child's development. ICE has not yet responded to specific allegations.