Evenezer Cortez Martínez is home now — but he never should have been deported in the first place.

A husband, father of three, and maintenance worker in Missouri, Evenezer followed every rule. As a longtime DACA recipient, he applied for and received legal permission to travel to Mexico and say goodbye to his dying grandfather. His DACA status was active. His advance parole was valid. And yet, when he returned, U.S. immigration authorities detained him, denied him access to a lawyer, and forced him onto a plane to a country he hadn’t lived in since age four.

His family was left terrified and heartbroken. For two agonizing weeks, they didn’t know if he’d ever come home.

Evenezer has since returned to the U.S., but the emotional and legal damage remains — and the system that failed him still exists. He was deported based on a hearing he was never notified about and a process that gave him no chance to speak. That’s not just wrong, it’s dangerous.

We’re calling on federal officials to:

• Investigate what happened in Evenezer’s case and hold the responsible agencies accountable
• Rescind the unjust deportation order still on his record
• Create clear, enforceable safeguards to ensure that DACA recipients with valid documents are never detained or deported without due process

Evenezer’s story is not just about one man, it’s a warning. DACA recipients contribute, pay taxes, and play by the rules. They deserve better than fear, confusion, and betrayal by the very system meant to protect them.

Sign to demand real accountability and lasting protections for Dreamers like Evenezer.

Photo: Evenezer Cortez Martínez