Illinois man faces deportation to Mexico despite fear of cartel violence and ties to U.S. citizen children.

Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, a 41-year-old restaurant owner from Illinois, is facing deportation to Mexico despite claiming fear of cartel violence, including the murder of his cousin. His attorney claims that returning would endanger him and his two US-citizen daughters due to extortion threats. After being detained near his daughter's school in October, a judge rejected his claim of reasonable fear, citing a 2003 removal order and an expunged DUI conviction from 2008. His case sparked protests in Staunton, where he was known as a community pillar, and resulted in the termination of a staffer for Senator Tammy Duckworth who was accused of misrepresenting himself in order to gain access to Ayuzo. Deportations are expected to continue.