In chapter 5 of The Undocumented Americans, Karla Cornejo Villavicencio's main claim is that the hardship suffered by the families of deportees is an important and underreported aspect of the way in which undocumented immigrants are mistreated in the United States.

The author learns of a man called Javier who has been deported and visits the family he was forced to leave behind in the small farming community of Willard, Ohio. She finds that, quite apart from the emotional distress and trauma caused by this separation, Javier's family members face various severe practical difficulties. His wife, Patricia, has to work long hours because their income is so greatly reduced, while his children are socially isolated and have to walk long distances to attend school since Patricia cannot drive.

When the author attempts to raise money to help Patricia and her children, she finds that few people are aware of or interested in their plight. In particular, the wealthy people who attended ivy-league universities with her do not contribute.