Alejandra Juarez called the United States home for over 20 years, but her stay of removal was denied and she was deported on August 3. In addition to being the mother of two children, both U.S. citizens, Alejandra is a valued member of her church and community. Please watch this powerful video and learn why Alejandra and her family fought her deportation to the very end.

When I left Mexico, I was about my oldest daughter’s age, and that was 20 years ago. Right when I got here I felt safe. I knew that I was living now in a country where if you work hard you will be able to accomplish your dreams. It was really hard. I was a teenager, and I didn’t have anybody here, so I had to work full time, and then go to school full time. But I knew if I kept doing that, one day, I would be able to have what I couldn’t have before.

One of my dreams was to own something. This house is very important to me. When my husband was called on to serve this country, all the money he earned over there, we started to save. We’ve been married almost 18 years. We have saved every penny that we earned to build this house.

My family is made up of two girls, one 16 year-old and one 8 year-old, and my husband. We are a very close family.

We always try to reach out to people who are in need. We love to go to Church because we volunteer at the food pantry and we see other people who are in need and we are able to do a small thing to help them.

Going to Church helps me a lot because I feel like I need God more than ever, and I need to reach out to God. So going to Church and volunteering at the food pantry, it makes me feel that I am growing near to God.

The Church is a place where I found people that love me and accept me for who I am. They have helped me a lot. There’s some days where I just feel like giving up and I can’t find the strength to keep going. But I can always text Pastor Sumer or call Tara. And I know they will come out with words of hope so I can keep fighting my deportation.

My daughters mean everything to me. They are the reasons for me to keep going every day, and to keep fighting to remain here. Both of my daughters are American citizens. Their life is here and my life is here with them.