Mother of acting military members faces deportation, Congressman pleads with ICE

SAN BENITO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A San Benito mother with two U.S. service member children is being threatened with deportation.

Juana Melendez is scheduled to be deported after living in South Texas for 25 years. Melendez is a small business owner and has raised her children in the United States.

In November 2024, Melendez submitted a military parole-in-place application and was denied in June. In this notice, she was informed that she had 33 days to submit an appeal or risk voluntary removal from the country.

Melendez and her immigration attorney have since submitted the appeal and are awaiting a response from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ValleyCentral spoke with the family on Thursday, who said their mother was detained during a hearing. While she was not deported, she will likely be processed and held in a facility in Raymondville.

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, D-Brownsville, decided to send a letter to Juan Agudelo, ICE Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations, urging the agency to provide Melendez with additional time to submit a new military parole-in-place application to delay her deportation.

Gonzalez argues that he is trying to help the two military members who are at risk of having their mother taken away.

"You're talking about military service members, people who are ready to go to war for our country, to die for our country," Gonzalez said. "If you're wearing our uniform and you're ready to die for our country, we should save your mother and allow your mother, who raised you in this country, to stay in this country."

He calls this a broken policy.

Two of Melendez's children are in the military. Her daughter is in her seventh year of service, and her 21-year-old son is serving overseas in the U.S. Navy.

Gonzalez's letter details Melendez's situation, stating that she is a single parent and has a 4-year-old daughter who depends on her for care.

"She is a single mother who has contributed to our community for over 25 years, a proud small business owner, and not a danger to society," Gonzalez wrote. "Since 2012, she has been operating a landscaping business, paying taxes and supporting her family. We cannot deport families of decorated American heroes that pay taxes and positively contribute to our community."

Gonzalez said he is also working on a letter to send to the president to request Melendez stay in the country.