PASADENA, Texas – Two weeks ago, Margarita Barron’s life took an unexpected and painful turn.
Without legal status, her husband and brother were picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in a dramatic raid at their home.
Sky 2 was over the scene that day as ICE agents demanded they come out and turn themselves in.
Since then, both men have been sent back to Mexico, leaving Barron and her 10-year-old daughter to pick up the pieces and make difficult plans for the future.
Barron says she is unsure what lies ahead for her family. She is considering leaving the United States with her daughter, but it is a tough decision.
“This is the only home my daughter has ever known,” Barron said. “I don’t know how she’s going to react to a new climate and culture because she doesn’t know anything other than the U.S.”
The last two weeks have been emotionally and financially difficult for Barron. She clings to sweet memories of better days with her family but worries about how to provide for her daughter without her husband, the family’s primary provider.
“We are going to sell both work trucks and return another one because we can’t afford to keep paying it,” she said.
On Oct. 27, ICE agents arrived at their Pasadena home. Barron’s husband, brother and a co-worker, all flooring workers, surrendered after the agents threatened to use tear gas.
An ICE spokesman confirmed the stop was targeted at Barron’s brother, who had illegally entered the U.S. three times, a felony.
Barron’s husband is now back in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The family stays connected through nightly FaceTime calls, holding on to hope for a reunion.
To help cover bills and groceries, Barron and several family members have been organizing plate sales in their community. They plan to hold another sale this Friday, cooking up pozole in front of their home.
“It’s been hard, but the support from neighbors and friends has been a blessing,” Barron said.
The family’s story highlights the human impact of immigration enforcement actions and the difficult choices faced by families caught in the system.