Woman Self-Deports to Mexico After 36 Years in America So Family Doesn’t Live in ‘Fear’ (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

• Regina Higuera self-deported to Mexico in early June after living and working in the United States for over 36 years

• Her daughter, Julie Ear, documented the emotional journey on TikTok

• Ear tells PEOPLE that she and her siblings are “heartbroken that she felt so scared for her safety that she had to make this decision”

After living in the United States for 36 years, Regina Higuera made the difficult decision to leave the only home she had known since age 15.

Well aware that her work permit had expired years ago, the 51-year-old garment worker living in Los Angeles self-deported on June 7, 2025.

Without enough money to apply for documentation, the mother of three, driven by fear for her own safety and a deep desire to protect her American-born children, departed to Mexico – marking a turning point for the entire family.

“We were heartbroken that she felt so scared for her safety that she had to make this decision, but we were ultimately supportive,” her daughter, Julie Ear, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Higuera had already been compelled to step away from her job as immigration raids became more frequent in her neighborhood of Highland Park, making it unsafe for her to continue working.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly been given orders by the Trump administration to arrest 3,000 immigrants each day.

“We have friends that were deported, some were missing for a week without knowing anything about where they were,” Ear reveals.

Even simple routines – like running errands or being out in the community – felt too risky for Higuera to navigate.

“She felt like a prisoner in her own home,” Ear admits. “She has been working in this country for decades to only live paycheck to paycheck.”

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history, targeting over 10 million undocumented immigrants.

As of June 23, 2025, ICE is holding a record 59,000 immigrant detainees, nearly half of whom reportedly have no criminal record, according to CBS News.

Afraid of being interrogated or detained at Los Angeles International Airport, Higuera and her family drove down to Tijuana, Mexico, and crossed the border to reach TIJ International Airport.

From there, Higuera flew into Mexico City and then drove nearly five hours to Guerrero, Mexico.

Luckily, Higuera had inherited land and was already in the process of building a two-bedroom house in Guerrero. She had originally planned on returning home once she hit retirement; however, given the political climate, she decided to speed up the process and leave the country on her own terms.

According to Ear, her mother has “no criminal record” and is “a hard-working taxpayer who has been working 12-hour shifts since she was 15, six days out of the week.”

Despite leaving behind her husband of 25 years, children, and grandchildren, Higuera was excited to finally be reunited with her mother, whom she hadn’t seen in over two decades.

“She says that she feels at peace because she doesn’t feel stressed about paying rent, but she misses us all so much,” her daughter explains.

Ear and her siblings are planning on visiting their mother in August. Their stepfather plans on moving to Mexico with Higuera very soon.

“She is trying to lean on family out there so she doesn’t feel lonely, but she is having a hard time adjusting to the cultural differences… they do things differently out there,” Ear reveals.

With over 100,000 followers across her social media platforms, Ear makes it a priority to speak out against the “injustices” unfolding in her city of Los Angeles and across the country.

She is actively involved with grassroots organizations, offering support however she can, and has taken part in numerous protests, standing alongside others in the fight for change.

“I would like to clarify that I do not want this to be an advertisement for self-deportation, but I also want to let people know that if they are thinking of taking this step, it is not the end of the world and that there are options,” Ear tells PEOPLE.

Saying goodbye to her mother was one of the hardest things she has had to do. On June 15, Ear, her siblings, and their stepdad celebrated Father’s Day for the first time without their mother.

“Going to spend family time without her just feels so off,” Ear said in an emotional TikTok video. “I keep asking myself, did I do the right thing? Did we do the right thing?”

Ear recognizes that although her mother’s choice to self-deport was the best decision for her family, it may not be a viable solution for others who cannot return to their home countries for various social, economic, or political factors.

“The reason that it was easier for us to make this decision was because we have family out there to lean on,” Ear explains. She encourages others in similar situations to lean on their communities — whether family, friends, or support networks — to find strength, guidance, and the confidence to build a life that truly reflects who they are.

“My mom chose to take control of her life and did not allow this country, which she spent years contributing to, tell her that she was a criminal because she is not.”

Read the original article on People