First immigrant under ‘Dreamer’ program deported to Mexico

CALEXICO, CALIFORNIA — A 23-year-old man is suing the Trump administration, wanting to know why agents removed him from the country despite having protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California on Tuesday, alleges that on the night of February 17, a Customs and Border Protection agent approached Juan Manuel Montes and aggressively asked for identification. Montes had left his wallet in a friend’s car, and was taken away by the agents when he couldn’t show his ID or proof of status.

He was detained near the border and made to sign documents. Just three hours later, he was back on Mexican soil.

Montes stayed with a friend for one or two nights, but began fearing for his life after being mugged and beaten.

He tried to return to the U.S. by climbing over the border wall, but was caught by agents and deported back to Mexico.

Customs and Border Protection claims Montes’ protected status expired in August 2015, despite federal documents showing it’s valid until 2018. They say they have a record of him climbing the border and getting caught, but none of his February 17 arrest and deportation.

Juan Manuel Montes is the first case of a "Dreamer" being deported from the U.S. Trump had promised not to include those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in his pledge to get rid of undocumented immigrants.