Pastor Ripped From His Church: Oklahoma Minister Deported to Mexico After 24 Years of Faithful Service

Oklahoma Pastor Wulfrano Portillo Deported to Mexico After 24 Years of Leading His Tulsa Church

Pastor Wulfrano Portillo, who led La Hermosa Church in east Tulsa, Oklahoma for 24 years, has been deported to Mexico after immigration authorities detained him during a routine check in appointment on March 10, 2026 in Oklahoma City.

Portillo, who came to the United States at age 16 and built his entire adult life in Oklahoma, was carrying a valid work permit and Social Security card at the time of his detention. Despite these documents, he remained subject to a 2007 removal order that was triggered by a car accident involving his parents.

His daughter Tania Portillo told reporters that her father had been complying with immigration requirements for years, attending scheduled check ins while waiting on pending applications.

He's been trying to do everything the correct way, fighting to stay. That has not been good enough.

Tania Portillo, the pastor's daughter

By March 12, just two days after his detention, Portillo was already across the border in Coahuila, Mexico. His daughter described the harrowing situation her father faced upon arrival.

He had nobody to contact that could make it there. No money, nothing, just thrown out there.

Tania Portillo

Portillo also has a pending U Visa application, a nonimmigrant status for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse, which was submitted in March 2018. That application remains unresolved.

The deportation has left his wife to take on his responsibilities alone, including leading the church, gathering the remaining pastors, and caring for their two daughters, ages 11 and 12.

Tulsa Church Left Without Their Pastor After ICE Detains Wulfrano Portillo at Check In

On March 18, the congregation of La Hermosa Church gathered for worship without their pastor for the first time. His daughters Betsabe Bojorquez and Kelsy Landaverde were seen comforting each other during the service, with Kelsy holding up a photo of their father.

Mexican pastors have reached out to offer support and help Portillo locate shelter as he adjusts to life in a country he left decades ago. His case echoes other recent deportations of longtime faith leaders, including Pastor Maurilio Ambrocio, who was deported to Guatemala in April 2025 after more than 20 years in the United States.

The Crusader's Opinion

There is something deeply unsettling about a government that drags a pastor out of a check in appointment where he showed up voluntarily, with valid documents in hand, and dumps him penniless in a foreign city within 48 hours. This man spent 24 years building a church, raising a family, and serving his community in Tulsa. He played by the rules. He showed up when they told him to show up. And they rewarded his obedience by ripping him away from his wife and young daughters.

Christians should be troubled by this. Not because we oppose border enforcement, but because we worship a God who commands justice and mercy to walk together. A system that punishes compliance and destroys families serving their communities is not justice. It is bureaucratic cruelty wearing the mask of law and order.

Take Action

• Pray for Pastor Portillo and his family as they navigate this separation. Pray for his wife as she leads the church and cares for their daughters alone.
• Contact your U.S. Representative and Senators to advocate for immigration reform that protects longtime residents with pending legal applications. Find your representatives at congress.gov.
• Support La Hermosa Church in Tulsa directly by reaching out through their Facebook page: Iglesia Cristiana La Hermosa.
• Donate to organizations helping families separated by deportation, including The Shepherd's Shield and World Relief, which works with immigrant communities across the United States.
• If you know of a pastor or church leader facing immigration issues, connect them with legal resources through the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), which provides pro bono immigration legal services.