Hispanic Man Leaves the U.S. After 30 Years and Moves With His Wife for an Incredible Reason

Chef returns to Mexico after 30 years

Migration marked by uncertainty

Finds peace in Oaxaca

According to Clarín, chef Mario Carrera, originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, lived more than three decades in the United States before making one of the most significant decisions of his life: returning to his homeland with his Argentine wife, María Martínez.

At 54, Carrera says leaving the country where he had worked for so long was a choice shaped by migration uncertainty and the need to regain lost peace.

His story reflects the complex reality of thousands of immigrants who leave behind family, stability, and work in search of a better future.

The chef’s experience shows how the so-called “American Dream” can turn into a cycle of effort, sacrifice, and uprootedness.

The First Stage as an Immigrant in the United States

Mario Carrera is a Mexican chef who lived more than three decades in the U.S. before deciding to return to his hometown of Miahuatlán, Oaxaca, to find the peace he lost under the constant pressure of immigration raids. https://t.co/4cxkFTVCIR pic.twitter.com/Lsse3tbydk

— SinEmbargo (@SinEmbargoMX) September 27, 2025

Chef Mario Carrera first arrived in the United States in 1990.

As he told outlets like El Español and CNN, he managed to enter without major complications and stayed for a decade.

During that time, he shared housing with his sisters in Florida and worked tirelessly to send remittances to his mother, who was battling cancer.

“My mom didn’t have a stove, didn’t have a blender, there was no TV, there was nothing,” Carrera recalled, explaining that the money they sent helped improve living conditions and cover her medical treatment.

Culinary Calling and Return to Mexico After Family Loss

Mexican chef returns to Mexico after 30 years in the United States – PHOTO: IG @alsabordelchefmarito

Cooking became a refuge.

Mario Carrera first cooked for his family and later found jobs in local restaurants, where he discovered his vocation as a chef.

That skill sustained him throughout his working life and allowed him to get by in a country that always reminded him of his immigrant condition.

After his mother’s death in 2006, Mario decided to return to the United States for a second period as a migrant.

Mexican Chef Returns to Oaxaca Amid Hostile Climate

Mexican chef returns to Mexico – Photo: IG @alsabordelchefmarito

This return lasted longer but was also more difficult.

He recounted how he tried crossing the border through the wall and spent three months attempting to get in.

He was detained, photographed, and deported multiple times by immigration agents until he finally managed to enter hidden in a van.

It was during this period that he met María Martínez, the woman he would marry and share a life full of challenges with.

Final Decision and Peaceful Life in Oaxaca

U.S. migration policies under Donald Trump finally broke his resolve.

“We saw how in Los Angeles they were arresting people, throwing them on the ground, insulting them. That had never happened before,” he recalled.

The event that sealed his decision happened one night when a police officer turned on the lights behind his car.

Even though it wasn’t him they were stopping, the fear was overwhelming. That’s when they decided to return to Mexico.

A New Beginning for Mario and María

Within two weeks, they had packed their bags and arranged the necessary documents for María to live in Mexico with temporary residency.

The couple returned to Miahuatlán, Oaxaca, with hopes of starting a new life free from the constant weight of persecution.

From there, chef Mario Carrera plans to open a small community kitchen to provide meals for vulnerable people.

“I feel happy, I feel joyful, and more than anything, I feel at peace. There’s nothing like being here, living in peace and tranquility,” he said.