In 2024, toward the end of his presidency, Joe Biden’s administration granted her a permit allowing her to work legally in the US. She had also been navigating the process to obtain legal permanent US residency, colloquially referred to as a green card, for years.

Nonetheless, instead of supporting the candidate Biden endorsed to succeed him, then vice-president Kamala Harris, Olivera’s husband supported Trump in last November’s White House election. He told KGTV that Trump’s promises to deport criminals en masse – despite his own May 2024 conviction of felony falsification of business records – appealed to both Francisco and Cynthia. And, echoing other mixed immigration status families who have had members affected by Trump’s policies, the Oliveras did not believe she would be hurt by her lack of legal US residency.

They learned she would in fact be affected by her immigration status when she went for a green card interview in Chatsworth, California, on 13 June. She was detained there by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents, according to a change.org petition pleading for compassion on behalf of Cynthia.

Olivera has since been transferred to an Ice detention center in El Paso, Texas, to await being deported.

Speaking to KGTV over a video call from the El Paso facility, Olivera suggested her treatment was undeserved.

Good riddance.