Maria Isidro, mother and wife of the pastor, was deported to Mexico, causing debate and frustration among friends, family and supporters.
Details of her case continue to attract attention as Maria’s family fights for nearly 30 years of living back in Florida.
Maria’s daughter, Daniela Isidro, told CBN News that her mother had been in the US for years since she came to the US on a legal medical visa to seek medical treatment for one of Daniela’s brothers.
She claims her mother and family, who live in Live Oak, Florida, meet with the Homeland Security Officer every year to ensure there are legal means of staying in the country.
In an obvious fixture in their community, Maria’s husband, Josafato, is the pastor of Centro de Adracion Vida Nueva, a Florida worship house.
Watch Daniela tell the sides of her family’s story:
However, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary to DHS, told CBN News in a statement that Maria was illegally in the US.
“Maria Isidro, an illegal foreigner from Mexico, was issued a final removal order by an immigration judge after she failed to appear on the court date on October 21, 2004,” McLaughlin said. “She has exhausted all due process and has no legal remedies left to pursue. After failing to self-abolize on June 3, 2025 and leaving the US, ICE arrested her and deported her on June 11, 2025.”
The statement also denied such allegations, targeting the allegations that family members and others were not receiving proper medical care after Maria was taken into custody.
“The allegations that Isidro had not received medical care are false,” McLaughlin continued. “ICE provides comprehensive healthcare from the moment aliens enter custody. DHS is committed to promoting a safe, safe and humanitarian environment very seriously for those under our custody.”
However, according to Daniela, her mother and family followed the rules and met with officials every year. Documents shared with CBN News appear to show that Maria actually met with civil servants regularly.
Additionally, the family provided an image of a Social Security card that Maria could use in 2015 for the purpose of working in the US.
Daniela said the 2004 issue where McLaughlin is being referenced was an address error that was eventually fixed, and that her mother complied with all fees and documents requested by the government in the years that followed.
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Family issues began earlier this month, with Daniela saying her mother was notified on June 2 that she would meet with an ICE agent, an annual event for the family.
“It was kind of strange that they asked her to present herself the next day,” she said. “It’s usually a few months away.
The family assumed this would be a normal encounter, but Maria reportedly introduced herself on June 3 and was detained when she was later deported to Mexico. In addition to compliance, Daniela said her mother had not committed a crime.
Two of Maria’s children, including Daniela, are American citizens. Her son reportedly filed a petition in 2023 to sponsor her for citizenship, which is under review.
Families want the cases to receive appropriate reviews. CBN News sent follow-up questions to DHS, but they have not yet been answered at the time of publication.
Check out the video for more details on family stories.
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