Joseph is a six-year-old deaf child who was deported to Colombia with his mother and younger brother after a routine ICE check-in in San Francisco. His attorney, Nikolas De Bremaeker of Centro Legal de la Raza, has stated that Joseph was denied access to his hearing aids during the deportation process and that the family is now in hiding in Colombia. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson disputes claims that the family was denied due process and says a final order of removal had been issued in November 2024.

What is not disputed is this: Joseph is deaf, he previously attended the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, and he is now outside the United States without access to the school, services, and medical support he needs.

Children—especially children with disabilities—deserve humane treatment, clear communication, and access to essential medical devices. A six-year-old who depends on hearing aids to communicate should never be placed in a situation where those devices are withheld, even temporarily.

Joseph’s attorney has called these actions “inhuman, illegal, and unconstitutional” and has urged Congress to investigate. California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has publicly called for Joseph’s return to his school community.

We are calling on the United States Congress to immediately launch a bipartisan inquiry into the due process violations and treatment of this family. Lawmakers must examine whether ICE and DHS policies were properly followed and whether safeguards for children with disabilities were upheld.

We also call on the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to take urgent action to bring Joseph and his family back to the United States, restore their access to legal counsel, and allow Joseph to return to the California School for the Deaf while his case is fully and fairly reviewed.

Immigration enforcement and compassion are not mutually exclusive. Accountability, transparency, and the protection of vulnerable children should never be partisan issues. Congress and DHS must act now to ensure justice for Joseph and his family.

Photo via The Independent / Family of Lesly Rodriguez Guttierez