Sure had to read a long way to find out that he had two DUIs and a hit-and-run.

Steve's comment is quite right -- the man wasn't just here illegally, but with two DUI convictions and a hit-and-run accident.

Yet the story portrays ICE as behind all this family's current troubles. His own role (coming here illegally and the multiple misdemeanor convictions) surfaces like a footnote, a technicality.

"local activists have pointed to Zavala's arrest as a warning for migrants to remain on guard" -- not, apparently, on guard against committing hit-and-run, or drunk driving, just against being caught.

Two DUIs are a big deal, no question there. But personally I don't think he should be uprooted at gunpoint and removed from our community, with his two kids ripped out of their schools, after sixteen years of residency.

from the article. " ICE officials told the Voice that Zavala came to their attention due to two drunken-driving misdemeanors. Court records indicate his first arrest was in 2012 from a hit-and-run DUI in which he struck a parked car in Mountain View. His second arrest came in November when an officer saw him weaving on Highway 101 near Gilroy.

Asked about this, Zavala admitted he had consumed about six beers after finishing up work in Watsonville."

I am generally opposed to deportations but even I find this article very biased. Was doing it at gunpoint necessary? I don't know. But what if nothing was done and he continued to drink and drive - eventually killing innocent people? What would people say, then? No doubt that ICE should have done their job and deported him.

Yes, I feel horirible for what the family must be going through but how about some personal responsibility here? He is the one that put himself and his family at risk with his irresponsible behavior. He's the sole income provider and does this? I don't have a lot of sympathy. Perhaps some of his wife's frustration, disappointment t and anger should be directed at him.

After having a second DUI - why wasn't he already in jail? Jail time is mandatory. Or was he in and out already? My father was killed by a DUI driver when I was nine, so I know all about "a family torn apart".

Sad to say I'm getting tired of reading this newspaper. It is so incredibly biased that I feel blatantly manipulated in at least half of their articles, and I have pretty liberal views! This is a perfect example.

Driving drunk is a serious crime. @Eyes Closed - I bet if he'd managed to hit and kill your child while driving drunk, you would not be saying that. Geez. Would have been better if he had stolen something instead!

I remember a similar article not too long ago of a poor family getting evicted. I felt so bad until I read she's a single mom, no dad in the picture, with 5, yes 5! kids and she's complaining she can no longer afford to live in Mountain View.

People, at some point you have to grow up and take responsibility for your own bad decisions. You can't just put on a sad face and hope someone will bail you out again and again. If I had taken a risk to cross into a country illegally, I would be on my best behavior (no drinking and driving)!

Voice - I guess you think you're stirring up sympathy, but I actually find myself less sympathetic to these cases after reading your articles than before. You might want to lay off for a bit so I can get my sympathy back.

The punishment didn't fit the "crime" stated. Drivers license revocation is a more appropriate punishment for drunken driving and should be applied uniformly to ALL drunken drivers. This would bring more/needed safety to our communities.

This wouldn't have stopped him from driving without license

What would you propose as punishment for 'THE' crime?
What would you propose to deter 'THE' crime?

If as you say this wouldn't have stopped him, deportation wouldn't have stopped him from doing it either.

Do you have data of the % of people who do/don't drive with revoked licenses? And do you have data that is specific to drunken driving circumstances? I've personally known 2 drunken drivers whose licenses were revoked and they didn't drive - they found complicated other alternatives to get to work, etc. - and they learned 'a lesson'. At the same time, I realize not everyone gets the lesson (Ethan Couch is example of someone who hasn't) ... but unless you have data that shows most drunken drivers with revoked licenses drive without licenses (or personally know the subject of this article would), your point is moot.

Yes - the writer tried to hide the two DUI's and hit and run, HAH! way down in the article. What incredible deceit. Given that biased and deceitful reporting the rest of the story is now in doubt. What incredible biased story-telling a sob story plastered over three pages in print.

The Voice owes its readers an explanation. Do they support habitual drunkards driving in our streets?
ANSWER THAT.

After Zavala is released he states, "As a father, sometimes we don't think of the small errors we make." "Small errors"? That is an outrageous statement.
My mother was killed by a drunk driver when I was 13, and I assure you, driving drunk is not a "small error". Since that is his attitude, we will certainly see him driving drunk yet again, and possibly this time killing someone.
So the Voice pours out a sob story over three pages, and finally exposes the truly pertinent part - driving drunk and hit and run. I (as another poster stated as well) have always been liberal, but I lose all pity and sympathy when the Voice writes such a manipulative story.
This man is responsible for his actions and the results of those actions. He gets no leeway from me.

I hope along with the pep talk from the wife about not to worry is a stern message to lay off the booze. And what about his driver's license? It was most likely suspended given his second DUI this past November which means it's doubtful he has insurance. I hope she still has the keys, and he's using public transit. If anyone doubts the high cost of DUI, check out the MADD website and view some pretty sobering statistics.

And then there's the MVPD response. "We don't want anyone to fear for their immigration status when they call 911," he said. "My biggest fear is this story could be misconstrued that it's the Mountain View Police who are tipping off ICE."

Ok, fine, but given all they know now what will MVPD be doing to make sure this guy doesn't get behind the wheel of a car again and accidentally kill someone? Or should that not be the general public's biggest fear?

Sorry, but no sympathy here for people who break the law.

I'm sure the animal who murdered Kate Steinle had a similar sob story attached to his multiple deportations and felonies. When does the safety of the citizens start to count here?

It is bad enough that people sometimes enter this country legally and then break the law, but there is little we can do to predict that happening. However, when the person has ALREADY broken the law and is allowed to CONTINUE breaking the law due to selective enforcement of laws intended to protect citizens, we know that person has no regard for our laws. To allow the person to stay due to a misguided sense of sympathy puts society at risk.

I, for one, am tired of being bullied by people who think that their sense of "social justice" should override the laws of the land. If you want to help people, you should find a way to do it without risking the lives of your fellow citizens.

If I decided to migrate to Ireland and live illegally, it is my responsibility to understand that if I get caught, I might be expected to leave. If I decided to take this risk, I would have a backup plan.

I have mixed feelings toward people coming into this country illegally. Politicians often point out that migrants take jobs no one else wants, but I have many frusterated friends who have been forced out of thier jobs because illegal immigrants will work under the table for a lot less.

I think mom needs to explain to the girls what happened. Dad wanted a better life for his family. He made a daring sacrifice to let them live in the US, but he also made some mistakes along the way. I bet if he gets sober, does something humanitarian, and applies for citizenship, he'll get it.

What about the hulking white American guy who pulled a gun in a Palo Alto road rage incident the other day? Can we deport him?

@Eyes Closed

Actually, I would love to. But if he's our home grown trouble maker I'm not sure why another country would agree to take him. This isn't a race issue. If Guillermo was Jacques or Philippe acting this way my answer would not change. No country should be strong armed into taking in someone who is behaving badly. I'm sure Guillermo is a nice guy who just made some bad choices. That doesn't mean we should keep him (and I'm not saying we shouldn't, that's for the courts to decide, but I can see why he was detained). Unfortunately, there is evidence at this point that he will likely continue to make bad choices in the future.

I do feel very sorry for his children but there are ramifications to bad decisions. If I mess up badly at work, get fired, and then can't pay my rent or mortgage, my children would also be forced to move homes, schools etc. and I would have no one to blame but myself.

The US has some of the most liberal immigration policies of any country in the world (and is willing to turn a blind eye in many cases), that doesn't mean it's ok to take advantage of them.

In the beginning of the article, good behavior and a stable family in 18 years seems to be the basis for leniency toward his illegal stay in America. His rough treatment at the hand of ICE suggests an overbearing enforcement and causes sympathy. The comments has provided a lot of good points to ponder, but here are a couple more:
1. During his 18 years here, did he pay taxes on all his income? If he did not, he has violated additional laws.
2. His family seeks out government assistance while he is in jail, which should be for US citizens. If any one has lied in the process of obtaining those assistance, it will be more violations of the law.

I am an immigrant from Hong Kong. I have friends who stayed in US illegally. I can relate to people struggle.

I want history to be my guide here. I understand that many Chinese were here working on railroad about a century ago, but most of them went back home because the government did not provide incentives for them to stay. Many of them would have sad stories to tell, but there was no injustice in sending them home. Fast forward to our time, sending any illegal immigrant home is not an unjust action, but keeping them here despite their illegal activities is surely an unjust cause.

I felt so bad for the family throughout the article. Then at the end I read about 2 DUI's. I feel the Voice wanted a sympathy story and it wasn't until the last few sentences I read about the DUI's. I doubt he had insurance after that. He was really taking a chance. He could have stayed "hidden" if not for the DUI's.

The Voice, particularly reporter Mark Noack, has a history of unreliable (he doesn't cross check the information from the people he interviews) and sensationalist reporting. No surprise there.

I was a legal immigrant, and until I became a citizen, of course I assumed that I could be sent back at any time. I find it strange that people come here illegally, break laws, and then still expect to stay.

Hiding the two DUI convictions until the end is irresponsible journalism, but gave me a great "ohhhh, that's why they got him -- makes total sense!" moment for me, so thanks.

I have to ask about the supplemental photos ("here's the dude helping a wounded puppy"): are you trying to get a job at The Onion?

By Associated Press February 14 at 12:48 PM
DAYTON, Ohio — Records show the driver of a wrong-way car that killed five in a crash including himself was jailed just over a day earlier on suspicion of drunken driving.

So just today a habitual drunk driver wipes out four plus himself (no loss there) - but doubtless he would have got a free pass in Mountain View if Noack had his way.

. . . STILL WAITING FOR THE VOICE TO MAKE A REPLY TO OUR COMPLAINTS OF BAD JOURNALISM. DOES THE VOICE STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF DRUNKS TO KILL US. IT SEEMS THAT WAY.

I have sympathy for the children. It's good that Zavala will have the opportunity to keep his family together, by moving them all to Mexico where he belongs. I hope he does that, but if he chooses to ignore the law and behave dangerously, then there's not much choice.

Tech (the big 3) want Mountain View all for themselves. This is clearly ethnic cleansing. Get rid of the poorest of the poor immigrants first. Then they can move on the the rest of us, ie elderly etc.
This poor guy got those tickets in 2012! Years ago, weaving on the freeway, no ticket? I thought ICE didn't get involved in these things.
I'm ashamed to be living here next to these tech giants. Just my opinion.

@GenosGranny

"Years ago, weaving on the freeway, no ticket? "

The latest DUI was in November (2015). And a DUI is indeed a ticket.

Totally biased journalism! 2 DUI's with one hit and run within last 3 years and he's still driving around. Shame on our system.

@GenosGranny You want cheap rent in a highly desirable neighborhood and you want others to pay for it, including immigrants like myself. Please don't hide your selfishness behind a pretense of speaking out for immigrants.

Major problem is the sanctuary cities, that stand in the way of deportation. I'm all for deportation, go home and get in line like all the rest of the immigrants. No jumping in front of those already in line.

"Man arrested for killing Stacey Aguilar is undocumented immigrant"

"Pedraza has faced at least three arrests for murder, domestic violence, and DUI."

Web Link

His DUI could have hurt others. Send that fool back over the border