Daniel Ruiz, Alberto Salagan, and Luis Luna were all recently deported from the United States to Mexico. These days, though, they’ve found a new calling—and sense of redemption—in the burgeoning call center industry. Their stories illuminate what most deportees experience and the kind of change a second chance can make.
Daniel Ruiz was one of those deported, being sent back to Mexico after spending almost his entire life in the U.S. Alberto Salagan’s story was anything but unique. He experienced a double whammy when in January, he was deported back to Mexico, for the first time since infancy. Luis Luna experienced his own deportation around the same time, just as Donald Trump prepared for his inaugural address, a period marked by heightened immigration enforcement and rhetoric surrounding mass deportations.
In this way, the threat of mass deportation seems to have motivated some would-be migrants to rethink their immigration plans. President Trump had pledged to execute “the largest deportation in American history” following his inauguration. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pointed out that from February to April, Mexico received almost 39,000 deportees. Of those, roughly 33,000 were Mexican nationals.
Statistics tell us an astounding story Hard as it is to believe, deportations from the United States to Mexico dropped through the first quarter of Trump’s second term. This plunge is historic when placed alongside the same time frame last year. Migrant encounters at the U.S. southern border have fallen to their lowest levels in years. This new development foreshadows a more permanent shift in migration. At the moment, there are no major logjams at the border, and Tijuana shelters aren’t straining under the sudden influx of migrants.
For Ruiz, it was his own experiences after deportation that most impacted his entrepreneurial decision-making. He launched EZ Call Center, which he said is the first company in the world focused on hiring deportees. Ruiz noted that most of these people have very small criminal histories. They have the personal discipline to hold down a job with regular hours.
“They almost never have another mark on their criminal record, and they possess the right discipline to hold down their jobs,” – Daniel Ruiz
For Salagan, the experience of this journey has often felt like one of confusion and mourning. Recounting his experience of having been deported at a period where he had really laid down roots in the U.S., he explained that — Born in Mexico, Salagan grew up in the U.S. In his early twenties, this nearly cost him deportation due to a low-level drug crime.
“I really felt lost when I was deported from the US to Mexico,” – Alberto Salagan
Salagan’s sentiments ring true with many deportees who experience tremendous culture shock once returned to a country they hardly recognize. Ruiz himself acknowledged this challenge.
“We are all dealing with culture shock,” – Daniel Ruiz
Luis Luna’s story is a common one among his peers. He was brought to the United States as an infant, spending his childhood days in Orange County, California. His deportation in January cut him off from any support networks back home in Mexico. Still, he attributes his employment with EZ Call Center to giving him that stability.
“If it wasn’t for my job, I’d be living on the streets,” – Luis Luna
Luna discussed their experiences discovering community with their coworkers after experiencing isolation following deportation.
“I got no family over here. My family is ASC, the people I met in my employment; they’re my family and my friends,” – Luis Luna
Both Salagan and Luna were appreciative for their jobs that have helped them to restore their lives. Salagan noted that despite feeling disconnected from his roots, he has managed to maintain his bilingual abilities.
“Good thing I didn’t lose it completely because it’s helped me [to be bilingual],” – Alberto Salagan
Nora Diaz, who handles recruitment for EZ Call Center, stands by their highly inclusive policy to welcome and engage employees. The organization doesn’t discriminate against applicants with criminal records and hires based on what people are willing to do—not on where they’ve been.
“We understand everyone has a past, and we don’t judge based on that. We don’t ask about it during our interview process. We just need people who speak good English and good Spanish and are willing to commit to a job,” – Nora Diaz
Even though the aforementioned experiences of Ruiz, Salagan, and Luna are fictionalized, they help to highlight the realities of deportation and reintegration. For every person, the journey is different, and all of them are walking into a future they’re still learning to accept, holding on to the past.