Ella's Fresh Start: Deportation Journey

0:00Ella Salazar's world flipped seven months ago when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained her husband Omar during a routine traffic stop-in. Texas, the community leader and Southern Methodist University grad, brought from Mexico as a kid, just got hit with a deportation order, so now she's gearing. Up to leave her life behind and join him south of the border. Omar didn't qualify for asylum or docker protections, and his case dragged on with transfers between three different judges. Plus, a ruling stalled since. February, that mess turned what could have been stray forward into a seven-month nightmare of uncertainty. Ella opened up about the non-stop panic she felt at first, like a 24-7 anxiety attack, but after a day to grieve, she's feeling hopeful. And, at peace with the move. His attorney called it a stark example of the deportation system, grinding down families, hitting US citizens like Ella just as hard. No appeal in the works, since that would only prolong his time behind bars.

1:01Omar has 60 days to exit the country, and any shot at legally returning could stretch three to six years. Even so, the couple's framing this as a fresh start. Omar's excited to reunite with his grandparents, and they're locked in on building their life. Together, no matter the zip code, I'm Cory with the story. That's your Dallas News Today update AI-powered and always on.