Detroit man deported to Mexico after 30 years in US

Something about this doesn't pass the smell test. There is something about this case that I do not understand. Perhaps the media just isn't getting all the information from the family and representatives about this case. I don't understand why the wife doesn't/didn't apply for a green card for her husband during all the years of their marriage. Is he a green card holder? If yes, then why didn't they proceed to the citizenship application. Yes I understand that the Immigration officials would advise he go back to Mexico and apply from there. The wife said the family spent $125,000 to fight his deportation so obviously they could have paid the application fees for a green card and or citizenship.