A Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient has publicly announced he will be renouncing his protections and returning to Mexico, citing a desire not to feel “captive” in the United States after nearly three decades.
In a video posted to TikTok and later reposted to X by political commentator Collin Rugg, the man—who identifies as @profe.baquera—said he came to the U.S. on January 15, 1996, as a baby and has lived in the country for nearly 30 years under DACA. He now says he plans to return to Mexico, a country he admits he has no memory of.
“I’ve made up my mind,” the DACA recipient says in the video. “I will be turning in my DACA and returning to Mexico.”
Check out profe.baquera's video! #TikTok https://t.co/04UO1EIrMB
— the true guru (@thetrueguru1) August 7, 2025
“Now there is a lot of fears and wonderings and what ifs, but I do not wanna be captive to this country anymore.”
The announcement quickly spread across social media, with some users applauding his decision and others questioning the rationale behind it. The man does not appear to be under any immediate threat of deportation but instead expresses philosophical and emotional reasons for his decision.
“We came to America 01/15/1996, so almost thirty years,” he said. “I was a baby, so I have no memories of Mexico, but I think it’s time for me to go back.”
The individual’s post comes as the future of DACA remains uncertain. The Obama-era program, which was designed to protect individuals who were brought to the United States illegally as children, has been the subject of multiple legal challenges and has faced strong criticism from elected officials in both parties for failing to provide long-term legal solutions.
Republicans, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, have long argued that DACA rewards unlawful entry and circumvents congressional authority. Critics say the program creates uncertainty for recipients and encourages further illegal immigration.
While the man did not cite any specific political reasons for his departure, his statements reflect the growing sense of instability surrounding the program’s future and the lived experience of individuals caught in its legal limbo.
The full video, originally posted by @profe.baquera, has garnered tens of thousands of views across platforms and prompted renewed debate over DACA, border enforcement, and long-term immigration reform.
