A Franklin woman says she’s considering leaving the United States voluntarily after recent immigration raids shook her family and her community. The woman, who asked not to be identified for her safety, shared that she and her husband came to Tennessee from Mexico decades ago in search of better opportunities for their children. Now, after witnessing neighbors and friends detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), she fears they could be next.
“This is not a life anymore. We live in fear every day,” she said. “We can’t sleep, we can’t work peacefully. My children are scared to come home and not find us here.” She explained that while they have built a life in Franklin—working, paying taxes, and raising a family—the threat of deportation has made that life feel impossible to maintain.
Some local advocacy groups say they’ve seen an uptick in families considering “self-deportation,” choosing to return to Mexico rather than risk sudden detention and family separation. Community leaders are calling for more support and clearer pathways for immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years but lack legal status.
For this Franklin mother, the hardest part is knowing her family might have to abandon everything they’ve built. “We will return to Mexico without anything,” she said through tears. “But at least we will be together