Elderly Bakersfield Couple Self Deports After 35 Years in the US

By Alfonso Sierra

Jan 7, 2026

Daniel and Alberta Herrera say with Trump's immigration crackdown "fear and insecurity" are all they have left after more than 35 years living in Bakersfield.

Credit: Alfonso Sierra

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A couple who has lived in the city of Bakersfield for 35 years has decided to self deport for fear of being detained and separated from loved ones by force.

Daniel and Alberta Herrera, both originally from Mexico, entered the United States in 1990 seeking a new life for themselves and their family. Daniel, 73, worked in agriculture, picking oranges, lemons, and other crops in the Central Valley, while his wife, 70, stayed home and raised their nine children and subsequently helped with their grandchildren. Both are undocumented.

Due to the Trump Administration’s extreme immigration policies, the couple has chosen to self deport for fear of being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and sent to a processing center where they would be separated, detained, and eventually deported.

“We’re not good here! We are not happy being in the situation that we are in. Fear and insecurity are all we have,” Alberta told El Popular during an interview in the modest home they share with a son in east Bakersfield.

Daniel was injured while working the citrus crops and is unable to work. “I haven’t worked since April, we have children that help, but they already have families and their own lives to live. We do not want to be a burden on them,” stated Daniel.

Daniel and Alberta Herrera outside their East Bakersfield home, where the couple has lived for more than three decades. (Credit: Alfonso Sierra)

Depression, anxiety in wake of ICE raids

In early January, border patrol agents conducted a massive immigration enforcement operation in Kern and neighboring counting, targeting farmworkers, day laborers and anyone else they suspected of being undocumented. Operation “Return to Sender” provided a glimpse of what was to come under the Trump administration.

Daniel’s children convinced him not to continue to go to work since ICE agents had detained several farmworkers. Since then, Daniel says that he has experienced depression and anxiety, feelings that are exacerbated by the constant stream of images of ICE agents in masks dragging people from their homes and vehicles. 

“I tried to obtain legal status during the amnesty in the 1990’s, but since I didn’t have my birth certificate, it couldn’t be done,” said Daniel.

The couple tried again some years later to legalize their status with the help of an immigration attorney who told them at the time that there were no waivers currently available and that it would be better if they stayed to see if the laws changed. The lawyer also suggested that because of their age they would likely not be targeted by immigration authorities.

Circumstances have since changed dramatically.

The Dignity Act of 2025

In July of last year, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Florida) introduced the Dignity Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393) in the U.S. House of Representatives, a bipartisan effort to strengthen border security while providing undocumented individuals with an opportunity to obtain legal status if they meet certain requirements. The legislation is pending, though it remains unclear whether it has any hope of advancing under this administration.

In a December press release, Salazar stated the bill has gained momentum in the House, with more than 25 cosponsors and 50 endorsements. 

“Momentum is growing. With six new sponsors joining the Dignity Act this week, we are proving once again that immigration reform is possible if Congress has the courage to act,” said Salazar. “Every day we wait, the situation gets worse, our workforce remains under pressure, employers struggle to hire, and millions of long-term immigrants who power our economy remain unable to fully contribute. We cannot afford more delay. The time for excuses is over. The time for the Dignity Act is now.” 

Still, both Daniel and his wife say that once they leave, they no longer want to return to live in the United States. Their only wish, says Daniel, is to obtain a visa to be able to visit their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

For those who do self deport, that may prove more complicated.

Voluntary departure vs. self deportation

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), some 1.6 million people opted to self deport since late 2024/2025. Some have called those numbers into question, arguing many immigrants are instead moving deeper into the shadows to avoid detention and deportation.

Self deportation is distinct from voluntary departure. The former entails leaving the U.S. without formal approval by an immigration judge and can affect future re-entry. Voluntary departure, conversely, is a judge-approved process by which an individual agrees to leave the country on their own, within a certain period (up to 120 days) without a formal deportation order being issued.

Individuals who choose voluntary departure forfeit any right to appeal a judge’s decision, and while they may be eligible to apply for a visa to eventually return to the U.S. timelines range from 5 to 20 years.

DHS had offered a $3,000 incentive and a free flight home for individuals to leave the country voluntarily through the end of 2025 via the CBP app, warning that those who fail to take advantage of the incentive “have only one alternative: They will be arrested, deported, and they will never be able to return to the United States.”

Experts say for those considering leaving the country, it is critical to consult an immigration attorney to understand the consequences and whether a “voluntary departure” program is the optimal choice, as it may limit future options.

Daniel and Alberta say the constant fear combined with the inability to work and provide for themselves convinced them to leave. They plan to return to Mexico for the first time in more than three decades in early January. One of their children will take them to Tijuana, from where they plan to return to Oaxaca, in the far south of the country.  

They leave behind 9 children, 29 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren in Bakersfield. 

This story was first published by El Popular, a weekly newspaper serving Latino communities in Western Kern County. It was produced with support from Aqui Estamos/Here We Stand, a collaborative reporting project of American Community Media and community news outlets statewide.