Deported Mexican Family Says 'Bounty Hunters' Reported Them to ICE, Claims Many of Them Are Latinos

A Mexican couple who built a successful street food business in California says they were deported after being reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by so-called "bounty hunters," many of whom they claim were also Latinos.

Their story, shared on social media, has drawn attention to alleged practices of paid informants identifying undocumented immigrants for federal authorities.

María Alcaraz and her husband Carlos Parra were living in Indio, California, where they ran a popular hot dog stand known locally as "the viral hot dogs of Coachella." According to Alcaraz, their business success turned into tragedy when people she described as "cazarecompensas," or bounty hunters, reported them to ICE. "They were doing their job, but what surprised me most was that many of them were Latinos, just like us," she said in the aforementioned TikTok video.

According to the video, Carlos was arrested first, while María hid at home with their two children, fearing detention. "They came looking for me at my house and threatened to take my children away," said Alcaraz. She later learned her husband had been taken into ICE custody while she sought refuge and legal advice.

The family consulted several immigration lawyers about the possibility of adjusting their status through their son, Carlitos, who has autism. "The lawyers told us there wasn't much hope," María said. "Every day felt endless, because they were hunting me."

With few options left and fearing separation from her children, María decided to return voluntarily to Mexico. She and her two children relocated to Mexicali, where her family helped them settle. "My mom never let go of my hand," she told La Opinión. Meanwhile, her husband remains in ICE custody in the United States. "We can only talk on the phone. I miss him so much, but I have faith we'll be together again soon," she said.

Before their deportation, the couple's Sonoran-style hot dog stand had become a local sensation, drawing large crowds and social media attention. Now in Mexico, María says she is focusing on rebuilding her life while waiting for her husband's release. "This is a new chapter," she said. "We have to start over, but with hope."