Latest news with #DeferredActionforChildhoodArrivals


The Hill
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump tightens reins on foreign students in multifront immigration crackdown on universities
President Trump is making it harder and harder for international students and immigrants to pursue higher education in the U.S. Dreamers, foreign students seeking visas and potentially even those looking to work in the country after graduation have all found themselves caught in the crossfire as Trump seeks to curb immigration while also cracking down on colleges and universities. 'It certainly did strike me that universities kept coming up as a very attractive target, and as a place where a lot of things that might not be really noticeable for another few years are becoming noticeable just in the scope of a few months,' said Dara Lind, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council. The most recent Trump administration action came against Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, those who came to the country undocumented as children who are allowed to renew their status every two years to avoid deportation. The Education Department announced last week it was investigating five universities for scholarship programs they have for DACA recipients, arguing the policies are unfair to U.S. citizens. 'As we mark President Trump's historic six months back in the White House, we are expanding our enforcement efforts to protect American students and lawful residents from invidious national origin discrimination of the kind alleged here,' said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. Foreign students coming to the U.S. now must go through a new social media check when applying for a visa, which has resulted in individuals purging their online accounts of any information that could be considered controversial. For those who have been studying in the U.S. over the past six months, life has been a whirlwind. Thousands were taken off the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a reporting system that gives information about international students to the Department of Homeland Security — then later reinstated after an uproar. Multiple students and faculty have been arrested and targeted for deportation after participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with the State Department alleging they pose a risk to U.S. foreign policy. Most of the individuals have been released from custody but are still facing deportation trials. 'I think they decided to target universities, particularly after the campus protests that happened in the previous year, and they've been looking for different leverage points to be able to force the universities to act in a way that Trump officials want them to act,' said Stuart Anderson, executive director for the National Foundation for American Policy. 'One point of leverage has been research funds, because that involves a large amount of money. But another part, another part of that leverage has been international student policy, because it's something that the federal government does have power over,' Anderson added. Advocates argue universities need to be willing to step up and fight back, despite the risk of federal funding pauses that have fallen on multiple institutions. 'We need to leverage all the levers that we have at our disposal, everything from comment letters when there are proposed rules, to legal action when that's appropriate, to really understanding how we navigate these different, evolving and complicated immigration policies in a way that continues our compliance with the law and support our students,' said Miriam Feldblum, president and CEO of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. 'It's not one type of actions that we need to take. We need to be attuned and nimble to take a variety of actions in order to support our campuses and communities,' Feldblum added. The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. International students who are at universities specifically targeted by the Trump administration, such as Harvard and Columbia, have even larger concerns. The administration tried to take away Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students, though the courts have so far rejected that move. The federal government has not given up, however, and launched an additional investigation into Harvard's compliance with enrolling foreign students. Separately, Columbia last week said it would in the future tell the Trump administration if an international student is expelled, one of a list of reforms to which the school agreed in order to get federal funds unfrozen. 'The administration has already identified universities — particularly a few elite universities — as individual targets for its culture war. That going after Columbia, going after Harvard — in a lot of respects, they've already identified that these are battles that they want to pick and that they want to have publicity in picking on them,' said Lind. Advocates worry the Trump administration will also seek to end a program that allows international students to work for a year in the U.S. after they graduate or require foreign students to apply for extensions if their studies take longer than originally predicted. 'You would get, eventually, hundreds or thousands of extensions a year, potentially and it would discourage international students from coming to United States, particularly if the extensions were not approved easily or regularly or if it was going to interfere with people being able to study or continue to study,' Anderson said.


CNBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Earnest Student Loans: 2025 Review
If you're considering private lenders to help you finance your education as a student, there are several reasons to consider Earnest as a potential lender. Earnest provides loans for a variety of educational circumstances including undergraduate and graduate loans, law school and medical school loans and even half-time student loans. Plus, applicants can borrow up to the cost of attendance for their school. Below, CNBC Select provides a full breakdown of what you need to know about Earnest student loans. Read on to find out more. Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent and graduate students, parents, health professionals$5,000 minimum (or up to state); maximum up to cost of attendance5, 7, 10, 15, years; up to 20 years for refinancing loans Terms applyUndergraduate and graduate students, parents, international students with U.S. co-signer$1,000 up to the cost of attendance ($180,000 lifelong maximum)5, 8, 10, 15 years for undergraduate loans, up to 20 years for graduate loans Terms apply Undergraduate and graduate students, parents, half-time students, international and DACA students Undergraduate, graduate loans, parent loans, MBA, medical school, law school, international and DACA student loans $1,000 up to the cost of attendance for new loans, $5,000 to $550,000 for refinance loans 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 years Nine-month grace period available No Yes - click here for details Terms offers several types of student loans that can be used for undergraduate and graduate school, MBA school, medical school and law school. You can also apply for a parent loan and can apply for loans even if you're an international student or if you're refinancing an existing loan. Another option Earnest offers is co-signed student loans. This just means that if you're looking to get approved for better rates and terms, or if you're concerned about being approved on your own, you can get a parent or other trusted family member to be your co-signer on the loan. According to Earnest's website, co-signers can improve their student's chances of getting approved by as much as five times. In order to qualify for a student loan from Earnest, borrowers should attending or planning to attend school at an eligible four-year institution, and residing in a state where Earnest can lend money. Earnest can provide loans in all states except for Nevada. They must also be a U.S. Citizen, a Permanent Resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Asylee or have a cosigner who is. There are also some additional criteria, depending on the specific type of loan you're applying for and your circumstances as a borrower. You must... You must... Interest rates can fluctuate depending on the benchmark rate set by the Federal Reserve but as of the time of this writing, Earnest offers rates starting at 3.19% with a co-signer and 4.89% without a co-signer. These rates are inclusive of a 0.25% autopay discount. Of course, applying with a co-signer who has a better credit situation than you do can help you qualify for an even lower interest rate. Earnest doesn't charge any origination fees, prepayment fees or extra payment fees. The lender boasts zero fees on its student loans and according to its website, it generates revenue primarily from collecting interest. Typical term lengths for Earnest student loans include 5, 7, 10, 12, and 15 years. Term length approval will depend on your credit report, the information provided in your application and other factors. Earnest offers four general repayment options: deferred, fixed, interest-only and full repayment. The deferred option means that you pay $0 while you're still in school and during your nine month grace period. However, you may still accrue interest on your loan balance even though you aren't required to make a payment during this time. The fixed option means you'll make a fixed low monthly payment of just $25 while you're still in school and during your grace period. After you graduate and your grace period has ended, you'll then be required to make the full monthly payment. This option helps you get a small headstart on repaying your loan even if you can't afford to make the full payment right away. The interest-only option involves making payments that only cover your accrued interest while you're still in school and during your grace period. Full payment will be due after your grace period ends. This option is only available to those with co-signed loans. Lastly, the full repayment option, as the name suggests, involves making your fully monthly payment even while you're still in school and after you graduate. As you can imagine, this option lets you pay the least amount in interest and helps you repay the loan the fastest. Of course, you should always choose the option that works best for your circumstances. Earnest offers a nine month grace period on their student loans. Depending on the repayment option you choose, full payment may not be due during this time. This lender also lets qualified borrowers skip one payment every 12 months. You'll pretty much enter a one-month forbearance that won't affect your standing with your loan. To be eligible for your first skipped payment, you must have made at least six consecutive on-time payments in full. And then if you want to skip a payment for a second time, you must have made at least 12 more consecutive on-time payments in full. You'll also be required to submit a request form to skip a payment. Lastly, Earnest offers a 0.25% discount for signing up for auto pay. This discount is also typically offered by many other lenders, though. Before applying for an Earnest student loan, consider these pros and cons. To apply, you can submit an online application from Earnest's website. Choose your desired type of loan and follow the steps to provide additional information. Ascent Funding is another solid student loan option but instead of offering repayment terms of up to 15 years like Earnest does, Ascent offers terms as long as 20 years. This can be a huge draw for someone who would prefer to have a bit more time to repay their loan despite accruing more in interest. Another big difference between the two is that while Earnest allows you to borrow up to the cost of attendance for your school, Ascent only lets you borrow up to $200,000 for undergraduate loans and up to $400,000 for graduate student loans. Most borrowers probably won't need to borrow this much money but if you happen to be someone who needs more than that, the lower funding limit from Ascent can definitely be a deal breaker for you. 3.09% to 15.61% APR with autopay discount (undergraduate new loan). Other rates and loan types are available. Visit Ascent's website for full details. Undergraduate and graduate loans, MBA, medical school, dental school, law school, doctorate and Master's, health professional loans. $2,001 up to $200,000 for undergraduate loans and $400,000 for graduate loans 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 years Deferment and forbearance options available For DACA recipients and non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents No Terms apply. Funding U also has a few stark differences compared to Earnest. First off, Funding U only allows applicants to borrow up to $20,000 per school year. While this ensures that some students don't borrow more than they may need, this limit may not be enough for some students. Next, Funding U offers repayment terms of only five or 10 years, making it less flexible with repayment time horizon compared to Earnest, which offers repayment terms that range from five years to 15 years. Funding U also only offers fixed rate loans. However, one factor that makes Funding U a very attractive option is that it offers a 0.5% rate discount for making interest-only payments in school. Earnest doesn't offer a comparable discount for doing the same thing, but it does offer a 0.25% rate discount for signing up for autopay. Qualifying undergraduate borrowers Up to $20,000 per school year 5 or 10 years Fixed Forbearance options available No Terms apply. Of course, it's always best to apply with a higher credit score but Earnest lets those with a credit score of 650 or higher apply for a loan without a co-signer. If your credit score is below 650, you can still apply for a loan but you'll need a co-signer. Earnest does conduct a hard credit check in order for you to officially apply for the loan and receive an outcome. Earnest may take steps to review your income depending on the type of loan you're applying for. Your income must come from a stable and verifiable source, according to the lender's FAQs. Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here. At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every student loan review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of student loan products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.


Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
DACA Recipient in US for 20 Years Faces Deportation After Wrong Turn
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Erick Hernandez Rodriguez, a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program who came to the United States 20 years ago, has been held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for nearly two months after allegedly taking a wrong turn during a rideshare trip into Mexico, according to his attorney. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek that Hernandez Rodriguez "self-deported and then tried to illegally re-enter the U.S." Newsweek has reached out to Hernandez Rodriguez's lawyer via LinkedIn message and contacted Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE for comment via email on Friday. Why It Matters Hernandez Rodriguez's detention comes as thousands of people have been arrested and detained, including immigrants residing in the country illegally and legally, with valid documentation such as green cards and visas. President Donald Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history, and the administration has deported thousands of people to their countries of origin, as well as a smaller percentage to third countries with U.S. agreements. It has also encouraged individuals without proper documentation to self-deport. In 2012, then-President Barack Obama introduced the DACA program, offering protections and work authorizations for millions of undocumented residents who came to the U.S. as minors. The program, which has about 538,000 active participants, has been in legal and political limbo for years as courts have weighed its validity. The first Trump administration attempted to end the DACA program, but the president also proposed extending protections for its recipients as part of broader immigration deals that included funding for a border wall and other policy changes. Photo of a sign for the Otay Mesa Detention Center sits in front of the building in San Diego on July 7, 2020. Photo of a sign for the Otay Mesa Detention Center sits in front of the building in San Diego on July 7, 2020. AP Photo/Gregory Bull What To Know "On June 1, 2025, CBP officers arrested Rodriguez as he tried to illegally cross the southern border," McLaughlin told Newsweek, reiterating that he "self-deported" first. However, according to Hernandez-Rodriguez's attorney, Valerie Sigamani, he was completing a ride-share trip to San Ysidro as a driver when he mistakenly missed an exit and inadvertently crossed into Mexico. San Ysidro is a district of San Diego, just north of the Mexican border. His lawyer told NBC San Diego, "And when that happened, he lost everything, basically. He no longer has DACA. His attempt to come back to the United States and say, 'This was a mistake. It was an accident. I was not trying to leave the United States,' was ignored," Sigamani said. Individuals with DACA must obtain advance parole prior to leaving the country. "DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country. Any illegal alien who is a DACA recipient may be subject to arrest and deportation," McLaughlin said. Sigamani alleges that CBP officials at the border asked her client for a bribe to return to the U.S. and has filed a complaint with the FBI on the matter. In response to a request for comment on the allegations, McLaughlin said, "CBP takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, investigates thoroughly, and holds employees accountable when policies are violated. This matter has been referred to the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) for review." Newsweek has confirmed with the ICE detainee database that he is currently held in the Otay Mesa Detention Center. McLaughlin told Newsweek that he is "in expedited removal proceedings." The 34-year-old came to the U.S. 20 years ago. Hernandez-Rodriguez's wife, Nancy Rivera, is a U.S. citizen, and told NBC San Diego the couple began the process for his permanent legal status following their marriage last fall. The couple has a daughter together and is expecting a son next month. Rivera had two daughters when they first met. There have been other reported detentions involving individuals who accidentally crossed international borders, including Milad Aspari, a green card holder who was doing construction work near the U.S.-Canada border when he mistakenly entered Canada. What People Are Saying Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek in a Friday statement: "Illegal aliens can take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return." Valerie Sigamani, Hernandez-Rodriguez's attorney, told NBC San Diego: "He's sad about the entire situation. He's afraid of returning to El Salvador. He doesn't know that country. He hasn't been there since he was a kid, so he has no idea what it's like to live in El Salvador." Nancy Rivera, Hernadez-Rodriguez's wife, told NBC San Diego: "I'm just worrying. I'm just worried that he's, if he gets deported, like, how I'm going to manage everything by myself. It's just a lot of, you know, stress, anxiety that I have." What Happens Next? Hernandez Rodriguez is facing deportation. He remains in Otay Mesa Detention Center under "expedited removal proceedings."


Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US Department of Education launches probe into University of Michigan's DACA scholarship: Is it unfair to American citizens?
The US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched a formal investigation into the University of Michigan's 'Dreamer Scholarship,' questioning whether its exclusive focus on undocumented students violates federal civil rights law. The inquiry is one of five such investigations opened this month into university-based aid programs that offer financial support only to recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The investigation seeks to determine whether these scholarships violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colour, or national origin in any program receiving federal funding. What is the Dreamer Scholarship? The Dreamer Scholarship, administered by the University of Michigan's Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, provides financial assistance exclusively to students protected under the DACA program. DACA, enacted in 2012 via executive order, allows certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to obtain work permits, defer deportation, and pursue higher education. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Even Beautiful Women Have Their 'Oops' Moments Read More Undo Unlike citizens and permanent residents, DACA recipients are ineligible for federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, federal student loans, or work-study. To bridge this gap, some universities and private donors created targeted scholarship programs like the Dreamer Scholarship to help undocumented students cover tuition costs. The complaint: Exclusion by citizenship The current probe stems from complaints filed by the Equal Protection Project of the Legal Insurrection Foundation, a conservative legal advocacy group. The organisation argues that by restricting eligibility to DACA recipients, the University of Michigan is discriminating against US-born students, who are barred from applying solely due to their citizenship status. The Department of Education, now operating under President Donald Trump's administration, has acted swiftly on the complaint. OCR's investigation will assess whether a scholarship administered by a federally funded institution can legally prioritise non-citizens over citizens without violating Title VI's ban on national origin-based discrimination. What does Title VI prohibit? At the heart of the investigation is the interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, a landmark federal law that was originally designed to combat racial segregation and discrimination in federally funded programs. Over time, the law has been applied to issues involving national origin, particularly in public education. Federal officials are now asking whether scholarships that explicitly or implicitly exclude US citizens based on immigration or citizenship status, even when targeting historically disadvantaged groups, run afoul of this law. The issue is further complicated by the fact that immigration status is not explicitly listed in Title VI, but national origin is. A Trump-era shift in education policy This investigation reflects the broader ideological direction of the Trump administration's education agenda, which places strong emphasis on prioritising US citizens in publicly funded programs. Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has vowed to scrutinise identity-based programs that, in the administration's view, may marginalise citizens in favour of non-citizens or targeted identity groups. This push comes on the heels of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that struck down race-conscious college admissions policies. Since that decision, race-based scholarships and diversity initiatives have increasingly come under legal fire, and DACA-focused aid appears to be the next target. What happens if the scholarship is found unlawful? Should the Department of Education determine that the Dreamer Scholarship violates Title VI, the University of Michigan could face significant consequences. These may include: Mandatory changes to the scholarship's eligibility requirements Loss of access to certain federal funds or grants Increased legal vulnerability to similar civil rights complaints in the future The decision could also have a ripple effect across higher education, prompting universities nationwide to re-evaluate scholarship programs that focus on undocumented or DACA-protected students. What this means for students and universities This case sets up a complex and high-stakes debate about how universities can balance inclusive financial aid policies with federal non-discrimination requirements. It also challenges institutions to reassess how far they can go in supporting undocumented students without running into legal or political resistance. For undocumented students, the investigation adds a new layer of uncertainty. For citizen students who feel excluded from identity-based aid programs, it may represent a shift in their favour. And for universities, it signals that the federal government is watching closely, and may soon demand major changes in how scholarships are awarded. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!


NBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Detentions of DACA recipients show they're not shielded from Trump's mass deportations
Missing an exit while driving on a San Diego freeway upended the life of Erick Hernandez, a DACA recipient who is now at risk of being deported to El Salvador, a country he hasn't seen in 20 years. Hernandez, 34, was giving two passengers a ride from Los Angeles to San Ysidro, known as the " most southern community in California" because it is so close to the Mexican border, on June 1 as a driver for a ride-share service. But he accidentally ended up in Tijuana, Mexico, after missing an exit, NBC San Diego reported this week. Because DACA recipients are not allowed to leave the country without prior approval, federal immigration authorities took Hernandez into custody when he tried to return to the U.S. Hernandez's case is one of the most recent showing how fears of possible deportation are becoming a reality for some undocumented young adults with legal permission to work and study in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. "His attempt to come back to the United States and say, 'This was a mistake. It was an accident. I was not trying to leave the United States,' was ignored," Hernandez's attorney, Valerie Sigamani, told NBC San Diego. 'When that happened, he lost everything." 'A growing pattern' Javier Diaz Santana, a DACA recipient who is deaf and mute, was detained in June when immigration authorities raided the car wash where he worked. And this month, a 36-year-old DACA recipient from Florida was among the first to be detained in the state's new immigrant detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz." Anabel Mendoza, director of communications at United We Dream, the nation's largest immigrant youth-led network, told NBC News the organization is starting to notice a "growing pattern that is exposing the vulnerabilities" DACA recipients face under Trump's immigration crackdown. McLaughlin said that "a DACA recipient may be subject to arrest and deportation." But DACA recipients are not breaking the law by being in the U.S. A court ruling this year determined that all current DACA recipients can keep their deportation protections and work authorizations aslong as they meet their requirements and renew their status. The court ruling was issued as part of a seven-year legal challenge from the first Trump administration and nine Republican-led states seeking to end DACA, which was started in 2012. Support for 'Dreamers' — but a crackdown instead Trump's efforts to end DACA in his first term and Republican legal challenges shut out an estimated 600,000 DACA-eligible teenagers and young adults from the program, which hasn't been open to new applications because of ongoing lawsuits. Polls and surveys have consistently shown that most U.S. adults favor granting permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers" — young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. In December, Trump told NBC News' 'Meet the Press' he would work on a plan 'to do something about the Dreamers.' But last month, a White House spokesperson told NBC News this wasn't a priority for the president, who is instead focusing on 'deporting criminal illegal aliens.' The recent detentions of DACA recipients and the administration's comments that DACA doesn't 'confer legal status' highlight the need to pass permanent protections that include a pathway to citizenship for the nearly 530,000 people in the DACA program, Mendoza said. Meanwhile, DACA recipients continue to stress their ties to the U.S. and that they've abided by the law. 'To qualify for DACA, we have to pass [background] checks, have a clean criminal record, and be good people,' said Evenezer Cortez Martínez, a DACA recipient who was recently denied re-entry into the U.S. and deported despite having secured permission to go on a trip to Mexico; he was able to return after two weeks. 'It was very stressful. I thought I had lost everything,' Cortez Martínez told NBC News following his return home in April. When Diaz Santana was confronted by immigration authorities on June 12 during a raid at his workplace, the deaf and mute DACA recipient showed them his Real ID driver's license. Diaz Santana believed he would be safe, according to the Los Angeles Times, which first reported the story. After all, he has DACA status, no criminal history and a valid identification. Still, he was taken into custody and spent a month in a detention center in Texas. Diaz Santana was released two weeks ago on a $1,500 bond, the lowest amount possible. He is at home in California with a GPS ankle monitor that allows immigration officials to keep tabs on his whereabouts, the Los Angeles Times reported. "This individual is an illegal alien. This Administration is not going to ignore the rule of law," McLaughlin said, though Diaz Santana has legal permission under DACA. In Florida, a 36-year-old DACA recipient was detained after missing a court date for driving with a suspended license, WESH-TV, NBC's affiliate in Orlando, reported. Josephine Arroyo, his attorney, told NBC News on Wednesday her client has no criminal convictions and has not been formally charged with any infractions. He has a "great job," she previously told WESH, adding that his employer had written a letter on his behalf. The DACA recipient has spent the past two months in immigration detention, including about two weeks in Alligator Alcatraz, which is facing allegations for keeping detainees in torturous conditions. Arroyo said she was able to get her client relocated to the Glades County Detention Center this week. When she visited him on Monday, her client said he was desperate to see his family. "He is still shocked and surprised this happened to him," despite having DACA, said Arroyo, who requested that her client be granted anonymity because of the sensitivity of his case. In California, Hernandez is being held in the Otay Mesa Detention Center. He has no criminal history, his attorney and family told NBC San Diego. Sigamani, his attorney, said immigration authorities at the border asked Hernandez for an $800 bribe in exchange for letting him return to the U.S. after mistakenly ending up in Mexico. After declining, according to the attorney, Hernandez was placed in expedited removal proceedings, making him ineligible for bond and unable to witness the birth of his son next month. 'I'm just worried that if he gets deported," Hernandez's pregnant wife, Nancy Rivera, told NBC San Diego, "how I'm going to manage everything by myself?" Sigamani said she filed a complaint with the FBI, hoping her client will be shielded from deportation if he is asked to cooperate in an investigation into his detention. McLaughlin said that the Office of Professional Responsibility at Customs and Border Protection is conducting a review of the allegations. She also characterized Hernandez's wrong turn while driving as a self-deportation and his attempt to return as an illegal re-entry. 'A little mistake should not upend your entire life," said Mendoza, of United We Dream.