Woman deported from US after 17 years says she’s mourning her old life and the person she used to be

Giovanna Hernandez is navigating the complicated reality of life after being deported to Mexico, sharing her personal experience in video posted on TikTok. The update highlights that the transition is not just about a change in location, but a fundamental shift in identity and perspective. 

As reported by the Daily Dot, after reportedly spending 17 years in the United States, she finds herself in a place she has not visited since childhood, leading to a profound sense of mourning for the person she used to be. The psychological impact of such a transition is significant and goes far beyond the initial moment of being sent away.

Hernandez speaks to the complex layers of this experience, including immigration detention, culture shock, and the abrupt social isolation that follows. She claims that when you lose your home, your social circle, and your established routine all at once, the process of healing can feel eerily similar to the stages of grief. 

She says she’s a completely different person now

Hernandez notes that she initially struggled with the idea of starting over by herself. However, she has since managed to build a new routine and is gradually getting used to living with family members she has not seen since she was a child. 

Despite this progress, she still struggles with the disconnect between her past and present self. She says, “I’ll look at pictures from before, and I just know that I’m a completely different person. I don’t recognize [myself].” This sentiment resonates with many others who have undergone similar life-altering events.

The comment section of her post has become a space for shared experiences, with many users identifying the feeling as a form of grief. One commenter shared that after reportedly living in the United States for 22 years before returning to Mexico, they were also “mourning for our old life.” Another person described the immense difficulty of being separated from their husband and children after 21 years of living in the United States.

Hernandez admits that while she is doing better now than she was in the early months, she still encounters days where she feels frustrated without being able to pinpoint exactly why. Despite the pain, Hernandez has discovered inner strengths she did not know she possessed.

She describes herself as more resilient and patient, having learned the difficult skill of starting over from scratch. She is actively using routines and grounding practices to help her move forward, though she is clear that this does not mean she has to ignore the pain of the transition.