A DEAF 6-YEAR-OLD Hayward boy who was deported to Colombia with his family last week told his teachers and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond on Thursday that he wants to return to school.
Thurmond and staff from California School for the Deaf Fremont met virtually with Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, 28, her 6-year-old son Joseph Londono Rodriguez, and their family’s attorney.
During the video call, Joseph had a conversation with his teacher about missing school and at one point the boy signed “I want to go back to school,” Thurmond said.
The superintendent said he’s increasingly concerned for Joseph because the boy doesn’t understand Spanish and received instruction in American Sign Language and English at the Fremont school.
“In speaking with his family today, Joseph made it very clear what he wants. He talked with one of his teachers, which lifted his spirits, but his situation is concerning,” Thurmond said.
“Without access to further ASL-English instruction or his Deaf community, Joseph is at risk of language deprivation, which can have serious impacts on a child’s development and health,” Thurmond said.
The family’s attorney said that Joseph is also at risk because of the potential for infection from lack of proper medical care of his cochlear implant.
Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez came to the U.S. in 2022 as an asylum seeker fleeing domestic violence. She was detained March 3 after showing up for an immigration check-in to have new photos taken, her attorney said.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said by email that an immigration judge had issued a deportation order for Rodriguez Gutierrez in June 2024, but the judge’s name was not provided.
The mother and her two sons, ages 6 and 4, were deported within two days of being detained.
“The family was transported to San Francisco International Airport March 5 and flown to Alexandria, Louisiana, and were removed to their home country of Colombia,” an agency spokesperson said. Rodriguez Gutierrez was detained “after failing to comply with multiple directives to report,” according to the spokesperson.
The family’s attorney Nikolas De Bremaeker maintains immigration authorities shuffled the family around so they could not access legal counsel and intentionally prevented the boy from receiving his hearing aid after being detained.
“Without access to further ASL-English instruction or his Deaf community, Joseph is at risk of language deprivation, which can have serious impacts on a child’s development and health.”
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond
“The family wanted asylum for a reason,” De Bremaeker said. “They are in danger in Colombia and ICE violated due process in detaining Joseph, his mother, and brother. We are doing everything we can with the federal administration to have them safely returned.”
Earlier this week, a member of U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell’s staff flew to Colombia to deliver the boy’s hearing aid and confirm the family’s wellbeing while last minute legal appeals are prepared.
Rodriguez Gutierrez does not have a criminal record, De Bremaeker said. She worked as a cleaner and child care worker, and the family lived in Hayward.
Thurmond said he’s working with members of Congress in an effort to return Joseph and his family to California.