California woman whose parents were deported to attend Trump’s State of the Union - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

by Ruben Vives

February 25, 2026

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Stephanie Quintino, a 28-year-old woman whose parents were deported from California to Colombia last year, will attend President Trump’s State of the Union address as a guest of U.S. Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano). Levin invited Quintino to highlight the human toll of the Trump administration's immigration policies, which have led to the separation of families and the deportation of both documented and undocumented immigrants, including American citizens. Quintino’s parents, Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, were detained by ICE during a routine check-in in February 2025 and deported despite their long-term contributions to U.S. society. The González family’s story is emblematic of the broader impact of Trump's immigration agenda. The couple entered the U.S. illegally in November 1989 seeking safety from Colombia's violent political climate. Over the years, they established lives in Orange County, with Nelson applying for asylum in 1992 but ultimately losing their cases due to legal technicalities. Their deportation in 2025 came after a decades-long legal battle and highlights the harsh consequences of Trump’s policies on mixed-status families. Quintino, who has advocated for immigration reform through her involvement with the Dignity Act, sees her attendance at the State of the Union as an opportunity to raise awareness about the struggles faced by immigrant families. She hopes to amplify their voices and bring attention to the need for compassionate immigration policies that balance border security with humanitarian concerns. Her presence underscores the growing criticism of Trump’s administration’s deportation practices, which have sparked widespread protests and accusations of inhumane treatment. This story matters because it humanizes the often-depoliticized issue of immigration enforcement. Quintino’s attendance at the State of the Union serves as a powerful reminder of how U.S. policies affect not just undocumented immigrants but also their American citizen children and families. As debates over immigration reform intensify, cases like the González family’s

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Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 2/25/2026