Francisco Javier Gonzalez is normally all smiles and chatty. Friday his demeanor was different. He was quieter, and the air was filled with silence on the drive to the immigration office in Miramar. "Obviously it’s difficult," he said.
The Palm Beach County husband and father of three girls has been in federal court fighting deportation back to his home country of Mexico.
Gonzalez was deported to Mexico in 2001 after he returned to the U.S. from visiting his parents with what he thought was a valid visa. He was stopped at the airport and then entered the U.S. to continue the life he established in South Florida before his five-year ban was up.
Friday he was direct in his responses and said he didn't know what was about to happen.
Gonzalez brought a friend on the ride. "In case she needs to bring my car back or something, but hopefully not," said Gonzalez. "I’m just hoping that I’m going to check in and get in and out."
On his drive south, he was looking for signs and saw two rainbows before meeting with immigration officials because his 30-day stay was up.
The meeting only took about three hours and Gonzalez was given a three-month extension. He alerted his wife and kids first. Then he started texting.
"Trying to tell as many people as I can," he said, as he told us he felt "amazing."
Gonzalez's attorney, Rebecca Sanchez-Roid, said they would be back at the facility checking in at that time. And that a lot would depend on petitions and filings now.
In 90-days Gonzalez hopes he sees another rainbow when he again meets with immigration officials.
