Here is good news, won by the hard work and courage of immigrants and immigrant rights advocates in Milwaukee. Beloved Milwaukee Public Schools teacher Yessenia Ruano, who was forced to take voluntary departure to her native El Salvador with her young twin daughters last June, will be allowed to return to the U.S.
Last year, Ruano came under deportation orders despite her pending visa application as a victim of sex trafficking. Ignoring such human rights provisions is consistent with the current functioning of the Department of Homeland Security.
Hundreds of people, including local Never Again Action leaders, turned out to support Ruano during the frigid winter of 2025. Immigrant rights advocates continued to work to support her case while Ruano and her family tried to adjust to their new homes.
Though the court ruling allows only a temporary return, Ruano and her supporters will continue to fight for her right to remain. In a recent text exchange, she talked about her gratitude and about how excited her daughters are to come back to school and the friends they were forced to leave behind in Wisconsin.