Luis Leon from Allentown was taken by immigration officers in Philadelphia this June. His family didn’t know where he was and even thought he had died. Later, his granddaughter said they found out he was actually in a hospital in Guatemala. (Photo shared by the Leon family)
Luis Leon, an 82-year-old man from Allentown, Pennsylvania, disappeared after visiting an immigration office last month to replace his lost green card. His family says officials never told them where he went.
On June 20, Leon and his wife visited the immigration office to report his lost wallet, which held his permanent resident card. While at the office, two officers suddenly handcuffed Leon and took him away. His wife was left confused and was kept at the building for 10 hours until relatives arrived.
Family Left in the Dark
The family says they tried contacting authorities but received no answers. Days later, a woman claiming to be an immigration lawyer called, offering help but refusing to share how she knew about the case.
On July 9, that same woman called again—this time claiming Leon had died.
Family Finds Out He’s Alive in Guatemala
One week after the disturbing phone call, the family got news from a relative in Chile. Leon was not dead but was instead in a hospital in Guatemala.
This surprised everyone. Leon has no ties to Guatemala. He had lived in the U.S. since the 1980s and received asylum after fleeing torture under Chile’s former dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Deported Without Notice
Reports say Leon was first taken to a detention center in Minnesota, then sent to Guatemala. He didn’t show up on any official deportation lists.
In 2020, a court decision allowed officials to deport immigrants to countries other than their homeland. This may be how Leon ended up in Guatemala.
Health Concerns and Family Worry
Leon suffers from multiple health problems including heart issues, high blood pressure, and diabetes. His current medical condition is unknown.
His family is now preparing to fly to Guatemala to bring him back home and care for him.
Investigation Underway
Officials say they have launched an internal investigation into how Leon was handled and deported without his family being informed.
