SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"Leaving a Brazil orphanage, thinking I'm going to live the lavish life in America, just to be a sex toy to this man that's supposed to be my father, my adopted father. You know, the one that's supposed to save me."

MARIA PIRES WAS 11 YEARS OLD IN 1989 WHEN FLOYD SYKES III BROUGHT HER TO HIS MARYLAND HOME AND BEGAN SEXUALLY ABUSING HER.

IT TOOK THE STATE THREE YEARS TO TAKE HER FROM HIM.

BUT HER LIFE WOULD BE UPENDED AGAIN DECADES LATER.

NO ONE HAD FILED PAPERS TO MAKE PIRES AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

IN MARCH, SHE WAS DETAINED AND THEN DEPORTED AS PART OF SWEPT UP IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN.

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"Everything happened so fast. My lawyer, nobody knew I was gone. Everything happened so fast."

PIRES WAS DETAINED DURING AN ANNUAL CHECK-IN WITH IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS IN BALTIMORE.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIALS HAVE CITED HER MULTIPLE STINTS IN PRISON AND A SERIAL CRIMINAL RECORD THAT INCLUDES ASSAULTS.

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"A lot of people told me, `Think positive. Think positive.'"

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"But I didn't know what to think. ... My heart was beating. I had anxiety. And I had so much going on. I didn't know what to expect when I got here to Brazil. But when I came here, they welcomed me."

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"I have a very serious mental health issue, due to my past trauma."

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"I've been seeking help while I was in America. But down here, I don't know how the system works."

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"Yeah. It's messed me up, real bad."

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

“I'm still kind of, you know, trying to take all this in. You know, it’s hard.”

PIRES LOST HER BRAZILIAN CITIZENSHIP WHEN SYKES ADOPTED HER. SHE HAS BEEN STAYING IN A SHELTER. BUT TO HER, THIS IS NOT HOME.

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"Still processing. I still can't believe I'm here. But I am here. I'm thinking it's a dream. But it's not."

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"Hopefully my lawyer can get me back to America ... You know, get a steady job ... Be able to buy my own house ... You know, and just live the American dream. Just live my life."

FOR NOW, SHE IS MAKING THE MOST OF THINGS.

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"I want to find my family. I don't know my birth family. I never met them. All I know is their name. I never got the chance to see what they looked like. I don't know if I have brothers or sisters."

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"So, at the time being, I'm going to have to make this the best that I can. To just get immune to Brazil life. To just get immune to Brazil life. This is like a vacation."

SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Pires, Deported to Brazil:

"So, while I'm here, I'll take advantage of the language. Whatever they can offer me. Learn the culture. And maybe, you know, if it's meant for me to stay here, you know, in God's will. If it's not, everything happens for a reason."