# Siblings Left Raising Younger Family Members After Parents' Deportation

> Over 4 million U.S. families with citizens and noncitizens face family separation after parents' deportation.
- Title: Siblings Left Raising Younger Family Members After Parents'…
- Summary: Over 4 million U.S. families with citizens and noncitizens face family separation after parents' deportation. Older siblings like Wendy Domingo now care for…
- Keywords: wendy domingo, guatemalan-maya center, deportation, mixed-status families, u.s. citizens, undocumented parents, border patrol, abraham domingo, maria leiva, eliza perez, news, local
- Source: ABC7 New York — https://abc7ny.com/story/older-siblings-left-raising-younger-family-members-parents-deportation-advocates-say/19960520
- Published: 2026-10-20T17:37:24+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: wendy domingo, guatemalan-maya center, deportation, mixed-status families, u.s. citizens, undocumented parents, border patrol, abraham domingo, maria leiva, eliza perez, news, local
## Wendy Domingo's Family Detained
Wendy Domingo, 18, is caring for her four younger siblings after Border Patrol detained her undocumented parents.

> I've never gotten pulled over before and it was a very frantic moment for me because, like, I'm a safe driver, so I was like, did I do something wrong?
## Border Patrol Detention
On August 9, 2026, Border Patrol detained Wendy's parents while they were buying sneakers for her younger brother.

> The license plate of the car is registered to a noncitizen.
## Parents Sent to Detention Centers
Wendy's parents were detained together in Florida and later sent to separate detention centers.

> Why did we leave the house? Why didn't you just send me?
## Deportation Outcomes
Maria Leiva was deported to Guatemala, and Abraham Domingo chose to self-deport to avoid prolonged detention.

> They were both returned back to their home country of guatemala.
## Mixed-Status Families
Over 4 million U.S. families contain both citizens and noncitizens, according to experts.

> The kids are the ones that are losing the most.
## Mariana Blanco's Group
Mariana Blanco, director of the Guatemalan-Maya Center, helps reunite children after parents are deported.

> So for wendy's family and for a lot of our families, they're coming to terms with sending maybe some of their siblings and the oldest staying behind.
## Eliza Perez's Story
Eliza Perez, 21, cares for her three younger siblings after her parents were deported two days before Thanksgiving.

> I had to leave my dreams behind, which was school and an office job, or a job with ac.
## Wendy's New Responsibilities
Wendy now works at a hotel to support her three younger siblings who are 16, 14, and 12.

> My sister, she's learning how to cook.
## Family Impact
Wendy says the house has gone completely quiet since her parents left, and she's learning to cook for her siblings.

> My parents really had the american dream.
## Long-Term Consequences
Wendy's family is one of many mixed-status families where older siblings now take care of younger members after deportation.

> The american dream was just ripped out in the span of a few minutes.
## Key takeaway

Older siblings like Wendy Domingo now care for younger family members after undocumented parents were deported.