When he least expected it, 55-year-old Jose was arrested in a raid at his job at the Madrona Car Wash in the city of Torrance, California, on September 29; The next day, September 30th, he was already in Tijuana, deported.

What he also didn't expect was that amidst the confusion and discouragement, upon his return, he would feel embraced by the country he had left 35 years earlier.

“I am very grateful to the Mexican government. Before, they would send you out through the border crossing, and that was it. You could get kidnapped there. Now, when you arrive, they treat you like a repatriated citizen. You go to an office where they ask if you need help, or what you are going to do,” says Jose, who left behind two daughters and two grandchildren in the Los Angeles area.

He remembers that he asked for help, and a Mexican government agent took him to the Flamingos Event Hall, which had been set up as a shelter in Tijuana and was part of Mexico te Abraza (Mexico Embraces You), a program created by the Mexican government to welcome deported Mexicans.

“In that place, they welcomed me and thanked me for being there. I truly felt free for the first time in a long time,” he says.

At the Flamingos shelter, Jose says they provided him with three hot meals, a bed to sleep in, a blanket, a pillow, and personal hygiene items; and bathrooms.

“They helped me get a personal ID from the city of Tijuana, my birth certificate, they gave me social security (health coverage) for three months, they helped me obtain the CURP, a very important identification document in Mexico.”

He says the shelter has a phone from which repatriated people can call their loved ones.

“Calls to the United States are free.”

One of the things he liked most about the shelter is that it is protected by members of the National Guard, so not just anyone can enter.

“They offer us psychologist services; many people return crying, very sad about being separated from their families.”

Although they are only given shelter for three days, after that time,They offer them other shelters after 72 hours if, at the moment, no family member is available to pick them up.

“I felt very comfortable and safe during the days I was there. They recommended the Casa del Inmigrante (Immigrant Shelter) where they have medical services. They told me I could stay there for up to a month, with a bed and three meals a day. Of course, there are many rules; the condition for staying a month is that you work and save money, and they require you to volunteer with cleaning.”

Also,” she says, “repatriated individuals are given a Welfare card worth 2,000 pesos.”

“You can buy whatever you want with that card,” she says.

But also,” she explains, “the Mexican government pays for their bus fare to any destination in Mexico and provides transportation to the bus station.”

“If you have someone to pay for your plane ticket, they will pay for it.” They take him to the airport. The Clean Car Wash campaign in Los Angeles bought me a plane ticket from Tijuana to Guadalajara.”

After spending four days in shelters, one of his daughters traveled from Los Angeles to Tijuana to say goodbye to him.

But first, she took him to Rosarito and Ensenada.

“Those were very happy moments,” says Jose.

The moment of truth came when his daughter took him to the Tijuana Airport to catch his flight to Zapopan, Jalisco, his hometown.

“I had an anxiety attack,” he admits.

But the sadness soon disappeared because his sister greeted him at the Guadalajara Airport with a mariachi band.

“I have mixed feelings. I’m very happy to be with my sister here in Zapopan. She welcomed me with open arms into her home. She’s taken me out to eat, but suddenly I get homesick for my friends and my family in Los Angeles. It was 35 years. It's difficult, but I'm happy,” he says, trying to stay positive.

And Jose doesn't fail to acknowledge the warm welcome he received from the Mexican government.

But he also has some suggestions for improving the care of repatriated individuals.

“At the Flamingos Shelter, they need more phone chargers, because when Immigration catches you, the only thing you have with you is your phone, but not the charger.”

He advises immigrants at risk of deportation to memorize a family member's phone number, because immigration authorities, he says, allow two phone calls.

“I didn't know who to call,” he remarks.

And again he thanked the Mexican government: “They don't pressure you, they don't watch you, they help you, and that, in one of the worst moments of your life, is a great relief.”