Maria Pires dreamt of a brighter future when she was adopted at the age of 11 and left behind the chaotic walls of a Brazilian orphanage. But the reality was different. Abused by her adoptive father, Floyd Sykes III, her childhood took a dark turn, leading to a turbulent life marked by violence and mental health struggles.
After nearly three years of enduring horrific abuse, authorities intervened, and Pires was placed in foster care. Yet, her troubles were far from over. At 18, her criminal history complicated her ability to gain U.S. citizenship, and her youth filled with overly frequent violent encounters had led to a system that deemed her a 'dangerous criminal.' Ultimately, she was given an ultimatum - deportation.
In 2023, she attended her annual immigration check-in and was taken into custody, leading to her deportation to Brazil, the country she barely remembered. Despite her tumultuous past, Pires remains determined to rebuild her life, learn Portuguese anew, and seek out her identity.
Now living in a shelter in Brazil, Pires holds onto hope, yearning for a fresh start and the chance to reconcile with her past. She continues to dream of returning to the U.S. and finding her place in the world with a renewed sense of purpose.
