A longtime supporter of President Donald Trump says he now regrets voting for him after a close friend was deported despite having no criminal record, a decision that has left him caring for her two children and questioning the immigration policies he once defended.
The man, who asked to be identified only as Michael to protect the family’s privacy, had voted for Trump in all three presidential elections. He said he believed the administration’s repeated promise that immigration enforcement would focus on people with serious criminal records. That belief, he says, collapsed when his friend, a mother of two who had lived in the United States for years, was taken into custody and deported.
“She did everything right,” Michael said in an interview. “She had no criminal history. She worked, paid taxes, and was raising her kids. I believed what I was told about who they were targeting. Now I feel like I was lied to.”
Michael’s friend, whom he described as a hardworking and devoted parent, was detained during a routine check-in with immigration authorities, according to him. Within weeks, she was deported to her country of origin. Her children, both under the age of 10, remain in the United States. With no immediate family able to take them in, Michael stepped forward.
“I couldn’t let them go into the system,” he said. “They’ve already lost their mom. The least I can do is make sure they still have stability, a school to go to, and someone to tuck them in at night.”
The emotional and financial strain has been significant. Michael said he has adjusted his work schedule to be home more often, taken on additional expenses for childcare, school supplies, and counseling, and begun navigating a complex web of legal paperwork to ensure he can continue to care for the children.
Advocates say cases like this are becoming more common as immigration enforcement expands beyond individuals with serious criminal records. “We are seeing more families torn apart where the person deported has no violent history and deep roots in their community,” said Elena Torres, an immigration attorney who has worked on similar cases. “The human cost is enormous, especially for children.”
The Trump administration has consistently defended its approach, arguing that strict enforcement is necessary to uphold the rule of law and deter unlawful immigration. Officials have said that while priorities may focus on serious offenders, anyone without legal status can be subject to removal under existing law.
For Michael, those policy explanations feel hollow compared with the reality now unfolding in his home.
“I used to argue online with people about immigration,” he admitted. “I’d say, ‘If you’re here illegally, that’s on you.’ But when you see the consequences up close, when you see kids crying for their mom at night, it changes you.”
He said the experience has forced him to reexamine not only his political views but also the information sources he trusted. “I believed the talking points. I believed that only the ‘bad people’ would be affected. That’s not what I’m seeing.”
Michael has begun speaking publicly in hopes that others who support tough immigration policies will consider the human impact. He has also shared his story in a video that has begun circulating on social media, prompting a wave of emotional responses from viewers who say they have faced similar situations.
Some have praised him for stepping up for the children. Others have criticized him, arguing that the law should be enforced regardless of personal circumstances. Michael says he expected the mixed reaction but feels compelled to keep speaking.
“If my story makes even one person stop and think about what these policies really mean for families, then it’s worth it,” he said. “I can’t change what happened to my friend. But I can be honest about how I got here and what it’s cost.”