Estrada Juárez came to the United States as a teenager and was later protected under DACA.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Sacramento mother who was deported after a routine immigration appointment is now back in the United States after a federal judge ruled her removal was unlawful.

Maria De Jesús Estrada Juárez, a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, returned to Sacramento weeks after being deported to Mexico in mid-February. A federal judge ordered the government to bring her back, finding her deportation violated due process.

“Just two weeks ago, I didn’t know if I will ever be back home. I didn’t know when I will see my daughter again,” Estrada Juárez said.

Estrada Juárez came to the United States as a teenager and was later protected under DACA. She said she showed up for a green card interview but never made it home.

“I didn’t get to prepare. I didn’t get to say goodbye. I didn’t get a real chance to see a judge or defend myself,” she said.

Immigration agents detained her, citing an old removal order from when she was 15.

Her attorney, Stacy Tolchin, said the process lacked basic legal protections.

“Things can go wrong, even for people who are doing everything right,” Tolchin said.

Tolchin said Estrada Juárez had no warning and no access to a lawyer.

“Oh, it’s been terrible. It’s just been awful. I hope people understand how dire the situation is now. This is really a case where the law was not followed,” Tolchin said.

A federal judge later ruled the deportation was unlawful and ordered Estrada Juárez returned to the United States.

Her daughter said the separation was sudden and devastating.

“One moment she was with us, the next, she was gone,” Damaris Beyo said.

A longtime family friend and employer said the experience was shocking to witness.

“You hear it all the time, but to see it up close and personal, was still disbelief,” Neeraj Paul said.

Local leaders say the case reflects broader concerns.

“She has done everything by the book. Yet her routine appointment turned into a month long nightmare,” said Sacramento Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes.

Talamantes said she is still concerned about others facing similar situations.

“I am still worried about the thousands of other people that are going through what Maria went through,” Talamantes said.

Estrada Juárez’s legal fight is not over. She is still challenging the denial of her green card and waiting for her DACA renewal.

“I wish all the damage would be corrected, just like that. But it is going to take a lot of time, but I am home,” Estrada Juárez said.

She said she plans to take time to recover and use her experience to advocate for others going through similar situations.

WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | Sacramento mother sues federal government after deportation despite DACA status

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