In a dramatic turn of events unfolding in San Francisco, California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is urgently advocating for the swift return of a deported deaf student and his family. This plea follows the unexpected deportation of Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and her two young children, ages 5 and 6, to Colombia earlier this week.
The family, who had been residing in the U.S. for four years while seeking asylum, encountered this predicament during a supposedly routine immigration check-in on Tuesday. Their attorney has described the deportation as sudden and has raised concerns about the welfare of the children, particularly the eldest.
The 6-year-old boy, who was attending the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, finds himself in a dire situation as he was deported without his crucial hearing aids. This has sparked outrage, with Superintendent Thurmond emphasizing the boy’s immediate need for access to these medical devices and specialized educational support.
“This student requires access to medical devices, including his hearing aids, and he needs to be in a supportive educational environment,” Thurmond stated emphatically. “He should not be in a detention center or living under harsh conditions. We are demanding his immediate return to ensure he receives the necessary care and education.”
This incident casts a spotlight on broader immigration practices, echoing findings from a Democratic report which revealed that the U.S. spent $40 million deporting approximately 300 migrants to countries other than their own. The report underscores the complexities and human costs associated with such immigration policies.
“This is a student who needs access to medical devices, hearing aids, and he needs to be in a program where he can receive support and care – not in some detention center, not in some cell, living in squalor and poor conditions, and we are demanding his immediate return,” Thurmond said.
Thurmond is asking new Homeland Security Secretary nominee Sen. Markwayne Mullin to call President Donald Trump, find out where the family is and bring them home.
RELATED: Judge orders 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his dad released from ICE detention
The Department of Homeland Security released the following statement:
“On March 3, ICE arrested Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, an illegal alien from Colombia. She illegally entered the United States in 2022 and was RELEASED into our country under the Biden administration. She received full due process and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on November 25, 2024.
ICE does NOT separate families. Parents are given a choice: They can be removed with their children or place them with a safe person they designate. This is consistent with past administration’s immigration enforcement. Gutierrez chose to be removed with her children, and they returned to their home on March 5.
Being in detention and in the country illegally is a choice. Parents can avoid detention and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app. By using the CBP Home app illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way and live the American dream.”
California School for the Deaf released the following statement:
“At the California School for the Deaf, our mission is to ensure that every deaf student has access to a safe, supportive, and fully accessible education. We are deeply saddened by the circumstances affecting one of our students and their family. Our school community remains committed to supporting all students and advocating for their right to learn, grow, and thrive.”
Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
