The paletero knew that, after 30 years of selling ice pops from a pushcart in South San Diego, it would be his last weekend in the United States.

But before Francisco Duarte, 59, and his wife prepared to turn themselves over to immigration agents to be deported across the border, he still had coolers with frozen treats known as paletas in Spanish and snacks waiting to be sold.

He decided to give them away instead. Kids lined up and families wished him well at Cesar Solis Community Park. It was his way of showing thanks and saying goodbye to the community he served.

Many of his clients had known this day was coming for some time.

Duarte had shared the news on social media — him standing in front of his paletero cart, delivering a heartfelt goodbye message that quickly went viral. He a

See Full Page