Outgoing Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska has a deportation sob story for us, courtesy of The Nebraska Examiner.
Mariana was brought here as a minor & then abandoned. She learned English, graduated from Central High & UNO with honors & then earned her pilot's license. Deporting her is disgraceful. Most Americans want a secure border, dangerous people deported, but also want decency &…
— Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) August 23, 2026
"… humanity."
Cindy Gonzalez reports for The Nebraska Examiner:
Ever since she can remember, Mariana Juarez wanted to fly.
A commercial pilot’s license seemed a distant dream, though, when family hardships in her home in Guerrero, Mexico, drove her out of school at age 14.
Mariana Juarez clocking in flight hours. She earned a private pilot license on a quest to be a commercial airline pilot. (Photo courtesy of Mariana Juarez)
Two years later, she and her mom fled to the United States without authorization. They were allowed to stay while the federal government weighed their cases. But shortly afterward, Juarez said, depression gripped her mom and she returned to Mexico, leaving her daughter with relatives in Omaha.
With the help of a cousin, Juarez enrolled in high school, won a full-ride private scholarship and this year graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with honors and an aviation degree. Along the way she worked full time, obtained a private pilot’s license and, at age 24, was in the process of achieving certification as a commercial pilot.
But her plan has been thwarted by immigration legal problems. When she was a teen, unbeknownst to her until later, an immigration judge had ordered her removed from the country.
Despite the weight of a well-known legal team — and intervention from a Republican congressman — Homeland Security officials have declined to reverse course and allow her to stay legally.
“It’s an unchristian policy we’re seeing here,” Bacon said in an interview with The Examiner.
Recommended
Mariana Juarez is self-deporting to Mexico in September. She can be a commercial pilot there.
Summary of underlying article:
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 23, 2026
She has a deportation order from 2018 for failing to appear for a court hearing (she says notice went to wrong address) after her mom illegally brought her across the border at age 14. The Board of Immigration Appeals denied her appeal, she was… https://t.co/ssKuH3PUa4
… given multiple temporary stays of removal, and now the Trump admin isn’t extending the stay. She has now chosen to self deport via a flight to Mexico next month rather than risk ICE detention.
So she is smart.
I 100% support LEGAL immigration and will embrace those who do that as our family.
— Sharp Stick in the Eye (@sharp_stick_eye) August 23, 2026
None of her accomplishments matters one bit. If she's not here legally, she needs to be sent back to her home country. It's really that simple.
No exceptions or sob stories are needed here.
Nope. Thats a dumb comment.
— Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) August 23, 2026
Do we have laws or don’t we? Are you allowed to defy lawful orders?
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) August 24, 2026
Mariana broke no law. We should have common sense and decency. You’ll lose the majority this next ejection because most Americans don’t like the indecency. We went from one extreme to the other.
— Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) August 24, 2026
Wise advice. Not. How does he think Donald Trump got elected?
Dude. She came here illegally. She needs to go home. It’s not up for debate. If she wants to come back she can do it legally. Rules are rules. And your feelings don’t matter.
— Denise (@neeceetx) August 24, 2026
US legislator demands that US immigration laws not be enforced and insults citizens who disagree with him.
— QTheLibertine (@QTheLibertine) August 24, 2026
What the hell is wrong with Nebraska?
Yep.
— Steve Summers (@SteveSummersIRL) August 23, 2026
You first have to follow the laws of the country.
There's no way the FAA should've issued any certificate to her either.
It’s called rule of law. She had time to work on her citizenship test as well as her pilots license.
— Mare (@broodcow2) August 23, 2026
It’s a great comment—and one of the many reasons you won’t be returning to Congress, Don. She’s here illegally, and the American people want her and all the others sent back to their countries of origin.
— Harry R. Vonner (@HarryRVonner) August 23, 2026
It’s “dumb” to say she was abandoned. She was not. She made a home with relatives. By the way, what laws, as a US citizen, am I allowed to ignore? I can’t even get on an airplane w/o proper ID but she’s allowed to fly one. And she’s in the country illegally. Justify that please.
— SnappedGinger (@CallmeHal56) August 23, 2026
She received a taxpayer funded education. She can take that knowledge back to her home country and improve the lives of her fellow Mexicans.
— SnappedGinger (@CallmeHal56) August 23, 2026
Yours is the dumb comment. She’s been given due process and multiple stays of the deportation order. You’re either a lying clown or too stupid to investigate the actual circumstances. Which is it?
— Ice Jester 🤡🏒🥅🚨🤡 (@hkyshawn) August 23, 2026
How us that dumb? She can go back and apply for citizenship. Why should she jump to the head of the line? What about the folks that are waiting that are doing it the right way. Your response is telling on whom you support. Where is your post about the family that did it right?.
— Phil Simon (@PhilSim72091943) August 23, 2026
This guy is exactly why the right loses and has been an embarrassment for 40 years. No backbone or morals, no desire to uphold basic American laws or stand up for the American people. Will say whatever to keep along and go along. Now he's out because he knows he's hated by all
— Barry McCockiner (@Rodger_Trout1) August 24, 2026
Nope, Don Bacon dumbness like yours is what got our country in this mess. Good to know you won't be back next year. Thanks for your attention.
— Mr Brez (@DaveHohman1401) August 24, 2026
I understand that Mexico needs pilots too, furthermore no leniency sends the message that illegal immigration is no longer tolerated. I know that bothers you but you should try supporting Americans.
— Noname (@JoseWal08081454) August 23, 2026
So, that whole "respect the law" thing is lost on you.
— dbetzel (@dbetzel) August 24, 2026
The Christian card again:
She wasn't deported. She left. There's a distinct difference between the two.
— Grace Dire (@ChampionCynic) August 24, 2026
She can take her diploma and pilot's license w/her and make a good life for herself. Many of her fellow countrymen don't get that advantage.
The proper term is 'thank you, US taxpayers.' 😕
She’s being forced out. Thats deportation. Get a heart. Read the Gospels.
— Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) August 24, 2026
At 18 why didn’t Mariana apply for citizenship? She must have lived with someone, they didn’t know?
— Lynn Allison ☮️🇺🇸 (@justgottaask1) August 23, 2026
Bacon claims he doesn’t know 18 is the age to apply for citizenship. Don you’re not helping anyone figure out legal immigration.
You are claiming to be dumbfounded?
Where in the Gospels does it talk about illegal immigration and how it's OK to ignore it in this case? Is Juarez an exception because she earned a private pilot's license?
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