My Family Divided: One Girl's Journey of Home, Loss, and Hope

Deportation refers to the legal actions taken against undocumented immigrants to remove them from their place of residence and send them back to their country of origin. In 2023, over 170,000 immigrants were deported from the US, leaving millions of children and family members without their loved ones (“Immigration Court Quick Facts.” TRAC Immigration). Many, including Guerrero, consider that deportation is part of a process of dehumanization and othering that occurs toward immigrants, especially those who are undocumented, and which perpetuates the idea that they do not belong or do not deserve the same rights and safeties as others who live and work in the US. When Diane’s family was deported, she was left without her family and forced to rebuild her life on her own: Her narrative is an example of the effects of the deportation process.

Depression is a mental health condition that affects about 8% of Americans (and 15% of adolescents) at any given time. Anyone can experience depression, and it can come and go throughout a person’s lifetime. Depression may be caused or triggered by negative experiences, but is also considered to have genetic and/or medical causes in some instances. Symptoms of depression include a loss of interest in usual activities or people, self-isolation and neglect, and self-harm. Depression can make a person feel constantly tired, listless, or hopeless. Depression can be treated with therapy and/or medication and with support, and lifestyle changes can also make a positive difference. Guerrero’s memoir explores multiple experiences of depression, her own and others’. Hers occurred as a result of the loss and isolation she felt after losing her family, and she was able to recover by finding her passion in performing art and resolving her relationship with her parents.

Detainment in the context of immigration refers to the physical capture and holding of undocumented immigrants by immigration officials while a court decision determines whether or not they will be deported from the country. People may be detained for weeks or months, without a fixed end date and in poor conditions. Undocumented immigrants report having their medical needs and nutrition neglected, as well as a general lack of safety and cleanliness. Detainees are separated from family members and have few personal freedoms; conditions are similar to those in prisons. Incidents of abuse and discrimination have also been recorded. Guerrero’s memoir details the reality of conditions in immigration detention centers in the US.

There are four different legal statuses applied to immigrants in the US based on their reason for immigration and the type of documentation they hold. The first are those who have become citizens of the US after a long period of living in the country with a resident permit. Groups two and three are, respectively, resident immigrants and those with green cards. These are people who have been given legal permission to live and work in the country, either for a set or indefinite period of time. Finally, undocumented immigrants are those living in the US without any of the previously mentioned documentation. Undocumented immigrants are constantly at risk of being detained and/or deported at any moment, potentially leaving behind children born in the US, as was the case with Guerrero’s family.