Jacksonville, Fla. (AP) — When Juan and Madison Pestana went on their first date in 2023, Juan vowed to always keep a bouquet of fresh flowers on the kitchen table. For nearly two years, he did exactly that.
Their love story was a whirlwind: She was an introverted medical student who grew up in Wendell, North Carolina, and he was a charismatic construction business owner from Caracas, Venezuela.
When they first met at a sushi bar, Madison didn’t expect much. That changed when she found herself in her car at 2 a.m., still talking the night away.
“He is literally my best friend … (and) the only person I’ve ever thought truly understood me as a person,” she said. “He truly is the love of my life.”
Since that first date, the Pestanas hadn’t spent more than six days apart – until immigration agents showed up outside their Miami apartment.
On May 9, the day of Madison’s graduation from medical school, Juan was taken into custody despite having no criminal record. Madison witnessed the shocking scene, leading a neighbor to believe it was a kidnapping.
“That shouldn’t be the word that people are using when proper law enforcement is taking people into proper custody,” Madison said.
Juan has been in detention ever since. Immigration authorities claim he is unlawfully in the country. His wife, an American citizen, insists he unknowingly overstayed his visa after they sought help from an unqualified notary to apply for his green card.
Madison has since relocated to Jacksonville for her surgical residency. Living alone, she drives more than 300 miles to visit Juan each weekend at a detention center, where they are permitted limited contact.
“I am living my worst nightmare,” Madison lamented. “What’s happening right now is not justice. This is just inhumane.”
Madison questions the safety promised by past political leaders like Donald Trump, expressing that rather than protection, her life has become more dangerous without her husband by her side.
As immigration enforcement tightens, the Pestanas’ story exemplifies the struggles faced by many couples navigating the consequences of changing policies.
Madison balances her demanding job while Juan awaits a decision on his future. If denied, he faces potential self-deportation to Portugal, fearing persecution in Venezuela. Meanwhile, Madison yearns for their life together, filled with shared meals and fresh flowers.
“You wake up in the morning and for a minute, you don’t remember. You think everything’s OK, and then, all of a sudden, it slaps you in the face again,” Madison shared. “I feel like the world is on fire outside, and all I want is my husband to walk through it with me.”
