Fact Check: Cynthia Olivera was allowed to re-enter the U.S. after a deportation order.

Fact Check: "Cynthia Olivera was allowed to re-enter the U.S. after a deportation order."

What We Know

Cynthia Olivera, a Canadian national, was initially deported from the United States in 1999 after immigration officials determined she was living in the country without legal status. Following her deportation, she managed to re-enter the U.S. by driving from Mexico to San Diego a few months later, stating that officials did not ask for her citizenship and simply "waved [her] in" (The Guardian, Hindustan Times). For the next 25 years, she lived in Los Angeles, worked, paid taxes, and raised three children who are U.S. citizens (Newsweek). In 2024, she received a work permit under the Biden administration and began the process of applying for legal permanent residency, culminating in a green card interview on June 13, 2025 (10 News).

During this interview, she was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, who cited her previous deportation and unauthorized re-entry as reasons for her detention (The Guardian, Newsweek).

Analysis

The claim that Cynthia Olivera was allowed to re-enter the U.S. after a deportation order is supported by her own account and corroborated by multiple sources. After her deportation in 1999, she successfully re-entered the U.S. without inspection, which is a violation of immigration law. This act is classified as a felony under U.S. law, as re-entering the country after deportation is illegal (Hindustan Times, 10 News).

The reliability of the sources reporting on Olivera's case is generally high, as they include established news organizations such as The Guardian, Newsweek, and Hindustan Times. These outlets have a history of investigative journalism and fact-checking, which adds credibility to their reports. However, it is important to note that the framing of her story may carry emotional weight, particularly given her family's political background and the implications of her detention under the Trump administration's immigration policies.

The narrative surrounding Olivera's case highlights the complexities of U.S. immigration law and the experiences of individuals who navigate these systems, often with significant personal stakes involved. While her re-entry was technically illegal, it reflects broader systemic issues within immigration enforcement and policy.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
Cynthia Olivera was indeed allowed to re-enter the U.S. after a deportation order, as she managed to do so unlawfully by crossing the border from Mexico. This fact is substantiated by her personal account and corroborated by multiple credible news sources. The circumstances of her re-entry and subsequent detention illustrate the complexities and challenges faced by individuals in similar situations.

Fact Check: Cynthia Olivera was allowed to re-enter the U.S. after a deportation order.