The DACA recipient is returning to Houston after being stuck in Mexico for 6 months, officials said.

HOUSTON — A father from Houston and a DACA recipient has returned home after being stuck in Mexico for nearly six months, officials said.

Congressman Al Green traveled to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to bring Jaime Avalos back to Houston. According to a press release, Green was accompanied by his wife, Jaime, their young son, and the Avalos family’s attorney, Naimeh Salem.

“Today, the promise made to my voter Jaime Avalos to go home to his wife, Yarianna Martinez, and their one-year-old son, Noah, is being fulfilled. The three went through extreme hardship during an unexpected family split,” Greene said.

Avalos, a DACA recipient and resident of Houston for over 27 years, made an appointment in Juarez, Mexico in August 2022 for a visa and was told by the US consulate that he was banned from entering the United States for 10 years.

“He was banned simply because his mother took him out of the United States at the age of 7 to register his adoption,” Greene said. “His wife and child ran into financial difficulties trying to support their family in Jaime’s absence, as Jaime was barely able to contribute to his family’s economic needs, which nearly caused them to lose their home.”

Green advocated the return of Avalos to the United States. On November 22, 2022, Green traveled to Ciudad Juarez to meet him in person.

“In numerous efforts to reunite the Avalos family, I introduced legislation to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, as well as a private bill for Jaime,” Greene said.

“We want to thank Congressman Green and his staff for working tirelessly with us in our efforts to bring Jaime home,” Salem said. “We sincerely thank the congressman for working side by side with us in this humanitarian mission to reunite this family. Congressman Green is a true representative of the people and an outstanding advocate. He helped us correct this mistake… We look forward to continuing to work with Congressman Green to help others like Jaime.”