Mexican dad self-deports, reflecting a family trend

"The decision is to give peace to my wife and to my kids," stated Fidel Rivera.

Fidel Rivera, a husband and father residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, for 30 years without legal status, chose to return to Mexico, leaving behind his U.S. citizen wife and two daughters due to concerns over the Trump administration's immigration policies.

The Rivera family's story was featured on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" and "ABC News Live Prime," in collaboration with ABC Owned Station WTVD in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Rivera, who migrated from Mexico at 18, is among many individuals opting to self-deport out of fear of arrest and detention under the current administration's strict immigration enforcement, which has led to nearly 60,000 individuals being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with almost half having no criminal record.

Rivera, who worked as an electrician and in construction over the years, met his wife Jennifer, a math teacher, 19 years ago. Their two daughters, Isabella and Mackenzie, are high school students. Despite being married to a U.S. citizen and having U.S. citizen children, Rivera cannot adjust his legal status due to entering the country without authorization.

The Rivera family's situation mirrors a national trend, with Rivera being one of the 1.6 million people who have self-deported amid the threat of arrest. The administration has encouraged undocumented individuals to leave voluntarily as a sign of the effectiveness of its policies.

After relocating to Mexico, Rivera expressed the difficulty of being separated from his family and not being able to participate in their daily lives. His family chose to remain in the U.S. so his daughters can complete high school and Jennifer can plan for retirement. Rivera is unable to visit his family in the U.S. or apply for any U.S. status for a decade.

ABC News' Victoria Moll Ramirez, Anne Laurent, and Leo Salinas contributed to this report.