Deportation Of Mexican Became Death Sentence

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

The wife of Juan Coronilla-Guerrero, who resided in the United States without documents, knew that the deportation of her partner to Mexico was almost a death sentence and she told the federal judge who was handling her case in the state of Texas.

Three months after he was exiled from the United States, Juan was assassinated in San Luis de la Paz, in the state of Guanajuato, where he lived after returning to his native country. "I knew that if he came back they would kill him and that's what happened," the widow said in conversation with the Austin American-Statesman.

According to the testimony of the woman, whose name was not revealed, on the night of last September 12, armed men broke into the house where Coronilla-Guerrero lived, who at that time was sleeping with her son. Aiming directly at his head, the thugs took Juan away. "Don't worry," was the last thing he managed to say to his little son. His lifeless body was found the next day on a city street.

Although local authorities have not shared official information about the death of the man, just 28 years old, the autopsy determined that he was killed with a firearm.

"There are compelling reasons why people want to come [to the United States]. I don't think that is something that will change],”said lawyer Daniel Betts, who defended Coronilla-Guerrero in his deportation case.

"Juan was a very good boy who always had a smile on his face," added attorney David Peterson, who also legally represented the Mexican. “It is a real tragedy for his family. Deportation should never be a death sentence."

The Austin American-Statesman report adds that deported people have become the target of criminal gangs, as they assume they bring money or savings from the United States.