Two Durham Elementary Students Deported to Honduras Within 48 Hours
Genesis, 11, and Denis, 6, were taken from a routine immigration check-in in Charlotte and removed from the country along with their parents within two days.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA — Two elementary school students from Durham and their parents were detained by federal immigration authorities during a scheduled appointment in Charlotte this week and deported to Honduras within 48 hours, according to family members and immigrant rights advocates.
Genesis, 11, and Denis, 6, were taken into custody along with their parents on Monday after arriving for what relatives described as a routine administrative check-in tied to their asylum case at an immigration office in Charlotte.
“This family was lured into the check-in office under a false pretense of safety, and they were ripped away from their lives, from their school and deported in about 48 hours,” said Andreina Malki, defense manager with Siembra NC, at a press conference in Durham on Wednesday.
Federal Officials Cite Missed Court Hearing
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security told NC Newsline that the family had previously been ordered removed from the country. “This illegal alien family unit was issued a final order of removal by a judge after they failed to show up for their immigration hearing,” the spokesperson said.
“They were returned to their home country of Honduras together. They received full due process and had no pending asylum claims or immigration applications,” the spokesperson added. The DHS spokesperson said parents are given the option to be deported with their children or to have the children placed with a designated caregiver, a practice they described as consistent with prior administrations.
The spokesperson did not provide further details about the hearing the family allegedly missed.
Family Had Complied With Requirements, Advocates Say
Relatives and advocates disputed the federal account, stating the family had complied with all immigration requirements since arriving in the United States in 2022. “They have always shown up to their appointments on time for four years. They have never hidden anything at all, and they do not have a criminal record. This is very unjust,” the children’s aunt, Lillian, said in a released statement.
“They were sent away with just the clothes on their back and need support rebuilding their life,” Lillian added.
On Monday morning, the family reported to the immigration office in Charlotte for an 11 a.m. appointment. Lillian, who drove the family to the appointment but remained outside, said she waited more than 90 minutes before receiving a call from an agent informing her the family was in custody.
Community Response
The deportation drew criticism from local officials and immigrant rights groups during Wednesday’s press conference. State Sen. Sophia Chitlik (D-Durham) spoke at the event, which highlighted concerns about the rapid removal of the family.
The case comes amid increased immigration enforcement actions nationwide, affecting families who arrived during previous border surges and sought asylum in the United States.
