Deported Pomona Man Finally Able To Reunite With His Dog | KQED

"A man and his best friend are being reunited in Mexico on Friday, three months after being separated by immigration agents outside a Day Laborer Center about an hour east of Los Angeles. The Inspector General for California's massive prison system says a backlog of investigations into staff misconduct has ballooned to 10,000 cases. The governing body for high school sports in California is changing its bylaws in an effort to protect immigrant student athletes."

"In September, a former day laborer was detained by Border Patrol agents outside the Pomona Day Labor Center and self-deported to Mexico just days later. In the process, he left everything behind - including his 9-year-old pit bull, Chapo. The Pomona Economic Opportunity Center, who runs the day labor center, has now raised enough money to reunite the two. Fernando Salazar migrated to the United States 22 years ago and eventually settled in Pomona."

"The 60-year-old worked as a day laborer, living largely alone after his wife and children chose not to immigrate. That changed nine years ago when neighbors found a stray puppy and gave him to Salazar. He said he raised Chapo like his child. "The dog motivated me to keep going," he said in Spanish from his hometown in Morelos, a rural state south of Mexico City. "When I'm eating tacos, he wants to eat tacos too.""

"Decades of isolation from his family led to depression, Salazar said, but caring for Chapo - the walks, the baths, the routine of it all - helped him feel grounded. That routine abruptly ended on Sept. 25. Salazar said he was walking Chapo near the day labor center when he noticed Border Patrol agents in the parking lot. The officers were targeting two other workers, according to staff at the site, not Salazar. Yet, he was still detained."

A man and his dog are scheduled to be reunited in Mexico Friday, three months after Border Patrol separated them outside a Day Laborer Center east of Los Angeles. A former Pomona day laborer was detained in September and self-deported to Mexico days later, leaving behind his 9-year-old pit bull, Chapo. The Pomona Economic Opportunity Center raised funds to reunite them. Fernando Salazar migrated to the U.S. 22 years ago, worked as a day laborer, and cared for Chapo for nine years after neighbors gave him the puppy. Video shows staff pleading as agents detained Salazar despite targeting other workers.

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