South LA Mother Self-Deports After 36 Years, Highlighting Local Impact of Immigration Crackdown

A South Los Angeles mother chose to self-deport to Mexico last week after living in the United States for 36 years, her family reported, highlighting the profound impact of increased immigration enforcement on long-term residents of local communities.

Regina Higuera’s departure on June 7 coincided with massive demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles protesting the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and ongoing raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Her daughter, Julia Ear, documented the emotional journey and shared it on TikTok, bringing attention to families facing similar decisions.

The family drove from Los Angeles to Tijuana, where Higuera boarded a flight to Mexico City before making a five-hour drive to her hometown of Guerrero, where she plans to retire. Her decision to leave voluntarily was driven by fear of being forcibly deported, which would have separated her from family under more traumatic circumstances.

Higuera’s self-deportation comes as the Trump administration offers a $1,000 incentive to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the country, a program that has drawn both criticism and participation from immigrant communities across Southern California.

The impact of such departures reverberates through South LA communities, including nearby Inglewood and Compton, where many long-term residents without legal status face similar dilemmas. These are often parents, business owners, and community members who have built lives and contributed to their neighborhoods for decades.

The timing of Higuera’s departure, as protests erupted across Los Angeles against immigration raids, underscores the climate of fear affecting immigrant families throughout the region. Many residents who have called South LA home for decades are now making difficult calculations about their futures.

For families in Inglewood, Compton, and surrounding areas, Higuera’s story represents a growing trend of self-deportations among community members who would rather leave on their own terms than risk detention and forced removal. The loss of these long-term residents affects local businesses, schools, and the social fabric of neighborhoods.

Immigration advocates note that self-deportation often results in family separation and economic hardship, as those who leave may have U.S. citizen children and deep community ties built over decades of residence.

This story draws on reporting by Summer Lin for the Los Angeles Times.