A Long Beach family has voluntarily left the United States, crossing into Mexico at the Otay border crossing on Monday after two decades of building a life they say was overtaken by fear of deportation.
At a Glance
- Sonia Burgueno, a U.S. citizen, left with her undocumented husband Francisco and their teenage son.
- They sold Franks Landscaping, their business of 20 years, and withdrew the boy from high school.
- The family relocated to Sinaloa, Francisco’s birthplace, rather than risk forced removal.
- Why it matters: The departure illustrates how stricter immigration rhetoric pushes even law-abiding mixed-status families to abandon established lives.
The Burguenos describe the choice as an act of dignity. Sonia told News Of Los Angeles her husband “came home crying and said, ‘I’m not a criminal. I don’t want to live like this anymore.'” Francisco, who has no criminal record, felt increasingly surveilled during recent months, prompting the couple to act before immigration agents arrived.
Crossing on Their Own Terms
Sonia, Francisco and their son packed whatever belongings they could carry and walked across the Otay pedestrian port of entry. Relatives and friends have since launched a fundraising campaign to cover moving expenses and repairs on a modest home in Sinaloa, where the family is now restarting with limited savings.
Leaving California meant Sonia had to part from her elderly mother and other relatives, all U.S. citizens. Still, she prioritized her husband’s peace of mind. “Living in fear isn’t living at all,” Francisco said in Spanish. “He did not want his dignity to be taken away. He’s not a criminal,” Sonia added.
A Business and Community Left Behind
Founded from scratch, Franks Landscaping served the same Long Beach neighborhoods where they raised their son. “We had our business for over 20 years. Our clients were like family,” Sonia recalled. The couple closed the company, sold its assets and pulled their teenager out of high school before departing.
Sonia called the decision the hardest her family has ever made. Yet she remains optimistic: “You can build a good life anywhere as long as you do it with love.” Francisco echoed the sentiment, saying the move is both an ending and a fresh start. “What matters most is that we are staying together,” he told News Of Los Angeles.
Key Takeaways
- A mixed-status family chose voluntary departure rather than risk forced removal.
- Two decades of business, education and community ties were severed within months.
- Fear of Trump-era enforcement tactics drove the relocation, even for an immigrant without a criminal record.
- Relatives in the U.S. are raising funds to help the Burguenos resettle in Mexico.
