Summary:
- An 82-year-old man named Luis Leon, a legal U.S. resident for nearly 40 years, was deported to Chile without his family’s knowledge.
- Leon was detained by ICE after visiting an immigration office to report a lost green card, leading to confusion and distress for his family.
- ICE confirmed the deportation but failed to notify his family, sparking criticism of immigration enforcement practices around elderly legal residents.
- Leon’s family was unaware of his deportation for weeks and initially feared he might have died.
- Despite Leon’s long-standing legal residency, ICE gave no explanation for the deportation and did not respond to legal inquiries.
- His family is exploring legal action to challenge the deportation and work toward his return to the United States.
An 82-year-old man who had lived legally in the United States for nearly four decades was recently deported to Chile without his family’s knowledge, according to multiple reports. Luis Leon, who resides in Pennsylvania and holds lawful permanent residency, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after he visited an immigration office to report a lost green card. His unexpected disappearance left his family searching for answers for weeks.
ICE confirmed that Leon was deported to Chile — a country he had fled decades ago following political repression — but provided no prior notice to his relatives. The incident has raised questions about immigration enforcement protocols and the treatment of older, legally present immigrants.
According to reporting by The Independent and The Daily Beast, Leon had entered the Minnesota office to manage the paperwork issue, unaware that it would lead to his arrest. It remains unclear what led ICE to proceed with the deportation, given his long-standing legal status. His relatives, concerned for his safety and well-being, only discovered his deportation weeks later. By then, they had already feared the worst. “We thought he had died,” one family member said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Leon is a survivor of torture stemming from political violence in Chile, according to his family and advocates. He immigrated to the U.S. nearly 40 years ago, eventually settling in Pennsylvania. Over the years, he built a quiet, stable life and maintained legal residency, with no known issues that might warrant deportation.
ICE has not publicly commented on why standard protocols to inform next of kin or legal counsel were not followed in this case. A spokesperson for the agency did not respond to media inquiries about the timeline of Leon’s detention or the legal basis for the deportation.
Advocates for immigrant rights have voiced concern over the case. “This is not how the system is supposed to work,” one immigration attorney familiar with the situation said. “An elderly man, with legal status, coming forward to deal with a bureaucratic issue should not end up deported and missing.”
Now back in Chile, Leon is reportedly in contact with his family, though details of his condition remain limited. His relatives are currently considering legal options, including challenging the deportation and seeking potential pathways for his return to the United States.
Background:
Here is how this event developed over time:
- 1987: Luis Leon, a Chilean national, became a U.S. legal permanent resident.
- Early 2024: Leon lost his green card and visited an immigration office in Philadelphia to request a replacement.
- Early 2024: He was unexpectedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the visit.
- Early 2024: ICE deported Leon without informing his family; initial reports mistakenly claimed he was sent to Guatemala.
- Late January 2024: The Guatemalan government clarified it had not received Leon and stated its deportation agreements with the U.S. do not include Chilean nationals.
- February 2024: Leon’s family discovered he had been deported to Chile after he managed to contact them.
- February 2024: Multiple media outlets reported on the incident, highlighting ICE’s lack of communication and failure to comment publicly.