On March 23, 2026, Federal Judge Dena Coggins ruled the deportation of Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez to be unlawful after a lengthy legal battle over her protective status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. A week later, on March 30th, Maria was reunited with her daughter and crossed the border back into the United States, a major victory for DACA recipients closely following this case.
The Unlawful Deportation of Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez
On February 18, 2026, Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez attended a routine immigration appointment in Sacramento, California, for her green card application, where she was detained and deported to Mexico within 24 hours. Maria, 42, has lived in the United States for roughly 30 years and has been under the protection of the DACA program since 2013. She has a 22-year-old daughter who is a United States citizen, through whom she was applying for a green card.
Upon Maria’s abrupt deportation, a lawsuit was quickly filed within the day by her lawyer, Stacy Tolchin alleging that her deportation was unlawful. The government responded that the court lacked jurisdiction since the petition was filed after she was deported, and because of the government’s discretionary decision to remove her. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the decision to deport Maria was due to an expedited 1998 removal order being reinstated from when Maria was 15 years old; however, Attorney Tolchin claimed that the order was never finalized, and therefore, there was no removal order to reinstate.
United States District Judge Dena Coggins in Sacramento found the government’s argument “unavailing” as she wrote in her March 23rd ruling, determining that Maria’s deportation was a violation of her protections under DACA, and her constitutional right to due process. The recent ruling granted emergency relief, ordering her return within the next seven days and restoring her DACA protections.
What is the Current DACA Legislation?
DACA, or the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” program, was issued by the Department of Homeland Security in 2012 under the Obama administration to protect undocumented young children brought to the United States from deportation, allowing them to apply for work permits. There are more than 525,210 DACA recipients in the United States, with 147,440 recipients living in California, as of March 2025.
The program has undergone major legal challenges since its enactment, but is still in effect today with limitations. The administration is continuing to allow DACA recipients to renew their status, which must be renewed every 2 years. However, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is not currently accepting new applications in response to a federal court ruling in July of 2021, which was upheld in 2025 by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Contact A Deportation Attorney Today
Reeves Immigration Law Group understands that the possibility of facing deportation is scary, and advises immigrants to proactively contact a deportation attorney and remain cooperative with local law officers. Our team of skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced deportation attorneys has been helping immigrants achieve their desired results in the most complex of cases for years. Whether you are concerned about your or your loved ones’ legal rights or the possibility of deportation, contact us today to discuss your legal options and specific concerns.
