Juan Gomez became an immigration reform activist after his entire family was arrested, detained, and nearly deported by immigration officials in 2007. While he and his brother, Alex, remained in the U.S. after they were detained, their parents chose to return to Colombia. This past month he made the difficult decision to leave the country after his temporary work authorization expired, and his application for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was delayed by what seems to be a growing backlog of applications.

Gomez, who came to the U.S. from Colombia when he was two years old, now has a degree from Georgetown University. He left the U.S. to take a job with an investment firm in São Paulo, Brazil, but because of his multiple run-ins with immigration officials and his temporary visa having expired, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to return to his home. 

(h/t Miami Herald)