Maria Gaytan is a mother of five children and Magda Samayoa is a mother of three children. They have been left adrift after their loved ones, who were an important support for the family, were deported, and they continue to live in fear.

After falling prey to brutal immigration raids, Calixto Sebastian, Maria Gaytan's husband, was deported to Mexico on Wednesday after agreeing to sign his voluntary departure from the United States.

In the case of Alejandra Aracely Anleu Samayoa, a 23-year-old physical therapist and the oldest daughter of Magda Samayoa, the girl endured three months of living a nightmare in the Immigration Detention Center in Adelanto, California. A federal prosecutor wanted to expedite her deportation.

Both women testified before the full Los Angeles City Council, where officials expressed solidarity with their personal tragedies, although they hope to receive specific assistance because they are struggling to pay the rent where they live.

Furthermore, both Maria and Magda were left without money after investing what little they had in paying lawyers who were unable to do anything to prevent Calixto and Alejandra's deportations.

“A few months ago, the husband of Maria Gaitan, a mother and resident of Glassell Park, was kidnapped by ICE,” said Council Member Hugo Soto Martinez, representing Los Angeles' District 13.

“Now, Maria struggles to pay rent, manage everything at home, and even cover basic needs, like buying food,” he added. “Maria has lived in fear since the federal government separated her family.”

Regarding Magda Samayoa, originally from Guatemala, Soto Martinez revealed that her oldest daughter “was kidnapped by ICE at the Home Depot in my district” on June 30.

“She has had to bear the unbearable burden of moving forward with her life while her daughter has been taken away from her,” the councilman said. “I can’t even imagine the pain she must be feeling right now.”

Deportation Machine

Homan said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is on track to reach that number, following a surge in arrests of suspected undocumented immigrants.

And, according to TRAC Reports at Syracuse University, approximately 60,000 immigrants were being held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers in the United States as of September. This number could fluctuate, but recent data reflects a significant increase since the end of 2024.

Alone with five children

Maria Gaytan, originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, recounted the detention and deportation of her husband Calixto Sebastian on the morning of August 6 in Norwalk.

Calixto, 45, was detained while working, on his way to repair the roof of a house. He was stopped by about six masked individuals who never identified themselves as immigration agents. On Wednesday, the man signed his voluntary departure from this country, to avoid being deported again.

Maria and her five children, all born in the United States, face financial and emotional difficulties.

“We have received support from the community through the “Juntos Family Park” group,” Maria told La Opinion. In fact, to forget some of the pain and sadness caused by her husband’s deportation, on Friday she helped distribute fruits and vegetables to needy families in Glassell Park.

Maria tried to seek legal help, but was denied due to her husband’s previous arrest for entering the United States without legal documents. Currently, the family has created a GoFundMe account to raise funds.

“My son Kevin Sebastian, [21 years old], saw his father in the detention center with a torn shirt,” suggesting that Calixto was beaten by the alleged immigration agents.

Calixto, who first came to the United States in 1990, tried to regularize his immigration status through his ex-wife, but the process failed due to the divorce and lack of documentation. verify that she had received a benefit through her application to register for permanent residence or adjust status, in order to request it according to Section 245(i) from the Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office.

Maria said that Calixto's deportation has deeply affected her and her children, especially the youngest, Ronaldo Sebastian (14 years old) and Joshua (16 years old).

For now, his oldest sons, Jason and Gabriel Sebastian, 21 and 20 years old, respectively, have taken on the role of leaders of the household. The former works at a Portos bakery, and the latter in construction.

“They have always been responsible, because that’s what their father taught them.

She can no longer pay the rent or the bills.

Magda Samayoa, a single mother with three daughters (Alejandra, Marylin, and Allyson), continues to live in fear of even going out. She hasn’t had peace since her daughter, Alejandra, was detained by ICE agents on June 30 while selling street food at the Home Depot, located at 2055 North San Fernando Road and 26th Street.

Nor does it comfort her because Alejandra—her oldest daughter—was her “right-hand woman” at the job that has provided them with an honest living in the United States.

“That morning I couldn’t accompany my daughter to work because I have arthritis,” she said. “Why did they take my daughter and not the real criminals on the streets?” I regret having sent her to sell that day.”

Alejandra, who was arrested by a group of 10 hooded men, spent three months in detention, suffering abuse and lack of medical attention, according to her mother.

“I had to send her to psychological therapy because she arrived in my country [Guatemala] in bad shape, all emaciated; on the plane they had everyone handcuffed,” she said. “In Adelanto they denied them calls. They didn’t give them food, they didn’t give them water and they had to hold on to the faucet.”

“If they got sick, they didn’t give them any medicine. She got a stomach ache, she got the flu, and she says they didn’t even pay attention to them. And when other women fought, they were all punished, and she would call me crying and say, 'Mommy, I'm hungry because you didn't give us anything to eat today, because the others fought and they punished us and locked us up.' Look, when she told me that, oh my, how my heart ached."

Alejandra weighed 130 pounds and when she was deported [on September 26] she had lost 20 pounds. She lives in Guatemala with a niece of her mother.

Magda Samayoa said that, in her new reality, her bills have accumulated and she owes at least $3,000 in electricity payments, although she doesn't know how long she will be able to pay the $3,000 monthly rent.

For this reason, she has appealed to the generosity of Los Angeles residents by opening a GoFundMe account.

Both Maria Gaytan and Magda Samayoa are participating in The group of parent volunteers from Juntos Family Park, who have been helping families with food since the beginning of the pandemic, alongside Pilar Quispe.

"Unfortunately, ICE arrested her family members, and the entire team is trying to help them in one way or another; trying to get them as much support as possible since, as they say, they lost an arm," Pilar Quispe said.

To donate to Magda Samayoa's home, visit https://gofund.me/5e4d943a9