California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is calling for the immediate return of a deaf student and his family, who were deported to Colombia earlier this week, citing the child’s need for critical medical support and education services.

The Deported Family’s Situation

Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and her two young children, a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old, were deported during a routine immigration check-in in San Francisco on Tuesday. The family had arrived in the United States four years ago and had been seeking asylum, according to an immigration attorney.

The 6-year-old boy is a student at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont. Thurmond stated that the boy does not have access to his hearing aids and is in need of medical devices and specialized educational support. ‘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,’ Thurmond said in a statement.

Thurmond’s Call for Intervention

Thurmond is urging new Homeland Security Secretary nominee Sen. Markwayne Mullin to contact President Donald Trump and locate the family, requesting their immediate return to the United States. The demand comes amid growing concerns about the treatment of vulnerable individuals in immigration enforcement policies.

The Department of Homeland Security released a statement on the case, asserting that Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, an ‘illegal alien’ from Colombia, was arrested by ICE on March 3. According to the statement, she illegally entered the United States in 2022 and was released under the Biden administration. She was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge on November 25, 2024.

The statement continued, ‘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.’

The DHS statement emphasized that being in detention and in the country illegally is a choice. It added that parents can avoid detention and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app. By using the app, ‘illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way and live the American dream.’

California School for the Deaf Responds

The California School for the Deaf released a statement expressing concern over the situation. ‘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,’ the statement said.

‘Our school community remains committed to supporting all students and advocating for their right to learn, grow, and thrive.’ The school continues to monitor the situation and has not ruled out further advocacy efforts.

Thurmond’s call for the family’s return comes amid broader discussions about immigration policy and the treatment of vulnerable individuals, including children with disabilities. Similar cases have drawn attention in recent years, with advocates arguing that such policies often fail to account for the unique needs of children.

The situation highlights the tension between immigration enforcement and the protection of children’s rights. Advocates are closely watching the response from the new administration, with some expecting changes in policy under the Trump administration.

As the case gains national attention, the family’s whereabouts remain unclear. Thurmond has said he will continue to push for their return, emphasizing the child’s need for education and medical care.