Key Takeaways
• Victor Avila, a 66-year-old green card holder since 1967, faces deportation for a 2009 minor criminal record.
• ICE enforcement increased after 2017 policy changes, targeting long-term residents with old or minor offenses.
• Avila’s deportation hearing is set for July 15, 2025, with family fundraising over $21,500 for legal defense.
Victor Avila, a Green Card Holder of Nearly 60 Years, Faces Deportation: What His Case Reveals About U.S. Immigration Enforcement
Victor Avila’s story has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸. As of July 2025, Avila, a 66-year-old green card holder who has lived in San Diego, California for almost six decades, is facing deportation. His case highlights the challenges that many long-term permanent residents encounter, especially when old or minor criminal records come into play. Here’s a detailed look at Avila’s situation, the legal process, and what it means for other immigrants, families, and communities.
Who is Victor Avila and Why Is He Facing Deportation?
Victor Avila has been a lawful permanent resident—commonly known as a green card holder—since 1967. He has built his life in San Diego, working as a legal assistant at Kiwan & Chambers, APC, a respected workers’ compensation law firm, for over 15 years. Avila is a father of four and grandfather of six, with all his children and grandchildren being U.S. citizens. He is known for his dedication to his family, his job, and his community.
In early 2025, Avila traveled to Japan to visit his son, who serves in the U.S. Air Force. Upon returning to the United States 🇺🇸, immigration officials detained him at the airport. The reason: a minor criminal record from 2009, involving a DUI (driving under the influence) and drug possession. Avila had already served his sentence and paid all related fines. His green card had even been renewed twice since that incident, with no issues raised at the time.
Despite this, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiated deportation proceedings against Avila. He is now awaiting a hearing scheduled for July 15, 2025, at the ICE facility near Bakersfield, California.
Why Is This Happening Now?
Avila’s case is not unique. In recent years, ICE has increased enforcement actions against permanent residents with old or minor criminal records. This shift began after policy changes under President Trump’s administration in 2017, which removed restrictions on where ICE could make arrests. Before this, ICE generally avoided making arrests at sensitive locations like courthouses, schools, and churches. Now, even people with nonviolent or minor offenses, who have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for decades, can find themselves facing deportation.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these enforcement actions have become more common, especially in places like San Diego. Federal data shows that over 80% of people detained in San Diego are classified as “noncriminal,” meaning they have no recent or serious criminal record. This has led to growing concern among immigrant communities and legal advocates.
The Legal Process: What Happens Next?
When ICE detains someone like Victor Avila, the process usually follows these steps:
- Detention and Notice to Appear (NTA): ICE detains the individual and issues a Notice to Appear, which is a formal document telling the person to go to immigration court. You can find more about the NTA process on the U.S. Department of Justice EOIR website.
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Master Calendar Hearing: This is the first court hearing, where the charges are read, and the person can respond. The judge may set future dates for more detailed hearings.
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Individual Merits Hearing: At this hearing, the judge listens to evidence and arguments about whether the person should be deported or allowed to stay. The person can present reasons for relief, such as long-term residency, family ties, or rehabilitation.
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Appeals: If the judge orders deportation, the person can appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) or even federal courts.
In Avila’s case, his legal team is preparing to argue for his release and for cancellation of removal. This means they will try to show that he deserves to stay in the United States 🇺🇸 because of his long residency, strong family ties, and positive contributions to society.
Family and Community Response
Avila’s family, friends, and coworkers have rallied to support him. They started a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised over $21,500 to help pay for his legal defense and efforts to secure his release. His daughter, Carina Mejia, has spoken out, saying that her father has always been a productive member of society and that his detention is unfair, especially given that his offense was nonviolent and happened many years ago.
Coworkers at Kiwan & Chambers, APC describe Avila as compassionate and always willing to help others. Many clients and colleagues have written letters of support, hoping to convince the court and immigration officials to let him stay.
Why Are Green Card Holders at Risk?
A green card holder, or lawful permanent resident, has the right to live and work in the United States 🇺🇸 indefinitely. However, this status is not the same as citizenship. Green card holders can lose their status and be deported if they are found to have violated certain immigration laws, including some criminal offenses.
Even minor offenses, like a single DUI or drug possession, can trigger deportation proceedings, especially if ICE decides to revisit old cases. This risk has increased in recent years due to policy changes and a focus on stricter enforcement.
Policy Changes and Their Impact
The Trump administration’s decision in 2017 to end “sensitive location” policies gave ICE more freedom to arrest people at places like courthouses. This has led to more aggressive enforcement, even against people with long-standing ties to the United States 🇺🇸 and minor criminal records.
Public opinion polls show that while many Americans support deporting immigrants with violent criminal records, there is much less support for deporting those with minor offenses, long residency, jobs, and U.S. citizen family members. This gap between policy and public opinion has fueled debate and calls for reform.
Legal and Advocacy Efforts
Immigration lawyers across the country are working to defend people like Victor Avila. They often challenge the legal basis for detention and deportation, especially in cases involving old or minor offenses. Common legal strategies include:
- Filing motions to terminate proceedings: Lawyers may argue that the charges do not meet the legal standard for deportation.
- Requesting bond hearings: This can help the person get released from detention while their case is pending.
- Applying for relief from removal: Options include cancellation of removal, which allows some long-term residents to stay if they meet certain requirements, such as having lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for at least seven years and showing good moral character.
Community organizations, such as the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, also provide legal assistance and support to families facing deportation. Advocacy groups continue to protest aggressive ICE tactics, especially when they affect people with strong community ties.
What Are the Stakes for Avila and Others Like Him?
If Victor Avila is deported, he will be separated from his wife, children, and grandchildren—all U.S. citizens. He will lose his home, his job, and the community he has been part of for nearly 60 years. The emotional and financial impact on his family could be severe, especially since he is a key figure in their lives.
Avila’s case is a stark reminder that even long-term green card holders are not fully protected from deportation. Many families across the United States 🇺🇸 are in similar situations, living with uncertainty and fear because of old or minor offenses.
Broader Implications for Immigration Policy
The outcome of Avila’s July 15, 2025 hearing will be closely watched by legal experts, advocacy groups, and immigrant communities. It could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.
Some members of Congress and advocacy organizations are pushing for changes to immigration law that would protect long-term green card holders from deportation for minor offenses. They argue that people who have lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for many years, have strong family ties, and have shown rehabilitation should not be forced to leave their homes.
At the same time, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintain that they are enforcing existing laws and that anyone who violates immigration rules, including green card holders with criminal records, can be subject to removal.
How Can Green Card Holders Protect Themselves?
For green card holders, it is important to understand that even minor criminal offenses can have serious immigration consequences. Here are some practical steps to consider:
- Seek legal advice: If you have any criminal record, consult with an immigration attorney to understand your risks and options.
- Keep records: Maintain copies of all court documents, proof of rehabilitation, and evidence of your ties to the United States 🇺🇸, such as family relationships and employment.
- Stay informed: Changes in immigration policy can affect your status. Follow updates from official sources like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Consider citizenship: If you are eligible, applying for U.S. citizenship can provide more protection against deportation.
Resources for Those Facing Deportation
If you or someone you know is facing deportation, there are resources available:
- Legal assistance: Organizations like the Immigrant Defenders Law Center and local immigration attorneys can help with removal defense.
- Community support: Many communities have advocacy groups that offer support, including help with fundraising for legal fees.
- Official information: The EOIR website provides details about immigration court hearings and procedures.
What Happens Next for Victor Avila?
The July 15, 2025 hearing will be a turning point for Victor Avila and his family. His legal team will argue that his long residency, strong family ties, and rehabilitation should allow him to remain in the United States 🇺🇸. The outcome will not only affect Avila but could also influence how similar cases are handled in the future.
Advocates hope that increased attention to cases like Avila’s will lead to changes in immigration policy, making it less likely for long-term green card holders to face deportation for minor offenses. Until then, families like the Avilas continue to live with uncertainty, hoping for a fair outcome.
Conclusion: The Human Side of Immigration Enforcement
Victor Avila’s story is about more than just legal procedures and policy debates. It is about a man who has spent nearly his entire life in the United States 🇺🇸, built a family, contributed to his community, and now faces the possibility of being forced to leave everything behind because of a mistake made many years ago.
His case highlights the need for clear, fair, and compassionate immigration policies that take into account the full picture of a person’s life, not just their past mistakes. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the growing number of cases like Avila’s shows the urgent need for reform and for better protection of families and communities.
For green card holders, families, and advocates, staying informed and seeking legal help are key steps in facing these challenges. The outcome of Avila’s case will be watched closely, not just in San Diego, but across the country, as a sign of what the future holds for long-term residents who call the United States 🇺🇸 home.
Learn Today
Green Card Holder → A lawful permanent resident authorized to live and work permanently in the U.S., not a citizen.
Deportation Proceedings → Legal process initiated to remove a non-citizen from the United States for violating immigration laws.
Notice to Appear (NTA) → An official document issued by ICE requiring an individual to appear in immigration court.
Cancellation of Removal → A form of relief allowing some immigrants to avoid deportation if certain criteria are met.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → Federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and managing removal of unauthorized individuals.
This Article in a Nutshell
Victor Avila, a long-term green card holder, faces deportation despite minor past offenses. His case exposes stricter ICE policies post-2017 change, affecting many residents. Family and community support rise as legal battle unfolds, highlighting the tension between enforcement and immigrant protection in the United States’ evolving immigration landscape.
— By VisaVerge.com
