This Pro-Trump Voter Can’t Believe Her Undocumented Husband Just Got Deported
It all started in February when Roberto Beristain, who came to the U.S. in 1998, went for his first check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after President Trump took office. During the check-in, immigration officials detained Beristain because of a violation he committed in 2000 when he accidentally crossed the border into Canada, was detained and released, and didn’t follow an order to leave the U.S. Now, 20 years after coming to the U.S. and 17 years since crossing into Canada, Beristain, whose wife voted for Trump because of his immigration stance, has been deported back to Mexico.
A pro-Trump family is coming to terms with the recent deportation of father, husband, and businessman Roberto Beristain.
According to several reports, Beristain was regarded as a model resident of Granger, Ind., where he lived and owned a restaurant. His detention took his wife, Helen, by surprise and in March she said she couldn’t believe what was happening and that she thought Trump would not deport her husband, just the “bad hombres.”
The Indiana man was deported in the middle of the night on April 5 despite having pending court dates to decide his fate.
ICE kept moving Roberto Beristain around which kept him frm seeing a judge, then deported him in middle of the night https://t.co/oUxGWS3Szz
— America's Voice (@AmericasVoice) April 6, 2017
“What is most distressing here is that Roberto had potential avenues for relief pending before the Immigration Court,” Adam Ansari, one of Beristain’s attorneys, said in a press release. “This was an attempt to short-circuit the justice process by intentionally removing him before a judge could stop his removal. We were in communication with the government regarding those motions – what they failed to mention was that they were in the process of throwing him out of the country.”
According to Beristain, his sudden departure from the U.S. by ICE was unexpected.
An attorney for Roberto Beristain says none of his client's lawyers was notified of his deportation. https://t.co/m4iGs8cSbT
— NPR (@NPR) April 6, 2017
“They suddenly told me it was time to go,” Roberto said in a press release. “They told me to get my stuff, they put me in the back of a van, and sped toward the border. They took me to another facility while in transport to sign paperwork. I asked to speak with my attorney, but was told there wasn’t time for that. At around 10:00 p.m., I was dropped off at the Mexico-U.S. border and walked into Mexico.”
Beristain admits that his wife really did believe that Trump would be good for the U.S.
Since March, Beristain’s wife has claimed that her real reason for voting for Trump was the economy and not his immigration stance as she previously stated.
According to Beristain, he and his wife never expected for Trump to go after the people who put him in office.
Since his detention, reactions have been split with people voicing support for keeping him in the country.
@POTUS Hope you realize that deporting Roberto Beristain is a huge mistake…. Mr. President, only you can stop this. #freerobertoberistain
— Five Pounds of Flax (@5_Lbs_of_Flax) March 26, 2017
Even pleading with Trump directly on Twitter.
@POTUS I respectfully request a look into the case of Roberto Beristain of Indiana. He was deported. Not a criminal & paid taxes. thank you.
— Richard Pennewell (@richpennewell) April 6, 2017
Yet, some people are claiming that Beristain’s wife is reaping what she sowed.
@KatyTurNBC Hey trump supporter??#RobertoBeristain pic.twitter.com/iOgPLSOwdg
— Anabella Gymenez (@jimenezana) March 28, 2017
And some people hope she remembers this lesson for the next election.
Dear Helen Beristain: You voted for the man who deported your husband Roberto. I hope you remember this when you vote in 2018 and 2020.
— Pete G (@stpete2you) April 6, 2017
READ: A Trump Voter Is Likely Losing Her Husband To Deportation
