In the heart of Honduras, a father’s dream of running a barbershop to support his family turned into a nightmare. Gangs demanded extortion fees, threatening his livelihood and his life. In August 2021, with no protection from the government and the escalating death threats related to his inability to pay, he made the impossible decision: flee with his wife and two sons to the United States.
Turned Away, but Not Defeated
In October 2021, the family presented themselves at the U.S. border, seeking asylum. Instead of finding refuge, they were turned away under Title 42 and forced to return to Honduras. With no other options, they reopened their barbershop to survive, but the threats resumed. Gang members demanded free haircuts and extortion payments the family could barely afford. By late 2022, the father knew staying meant death. He fled to the U.S. alone, hoping it would shield his family from danger.
A Night of Terror
In May 2023, their home was no longer safe. Four armed gang members broke in at night, stealing everything of value—phones, money, even the mother’s wedding ring. One man tried to assault her while her terrified sons screamed. Only the gang leader’s orders spared her from further harm. Before they left, they took her phone and warned her: they knew everything about her. If she made a wrong move, her family would die.
A Mother’s Courage
By June 2023, the mother knew they had to escape. The journey through Mexico was treacherous—cartels kidnapped migrants for ransom, corrupt police demanded bribes. She made the painful decision to send her sons ahead as unaccompanied minors to reunite with their father in the U.S. She stayed behind, waiting for her chance to present her case for asylum.
A Legal Lifeline
Once in the U.S., the two young boys found hope through Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy (Advocacy Center). Our team worked tirelessly to ensure they had the legal support needed to navigate the complex asylum process. This process included preparing a supplemental filing, along with requesting that the brothers’ interview be scheduled concurrently, so that both boys’ testimony could be used to support the other’s case. Preparation included in-depth interviews with both boys and their parents to prepare detailed declarations in support of the boys’ claims. It also required writing a letter memorandum laying out the facts of the case and applicable law, as well as preparing a packet of “circumstantial” evidence—reports of country conditions and local news articles corroborating the family’s experience of past persecution, and then also corroborating the boys’ fear of future persecution and harm, if they were forced to return to Honduras. We also held two complete mock interviews with the boys and their mother to prepare them for the interview, receiving help from multiple Advocacy Center attorneys and paralegals in our Immigrant Justice Program who took time away from their own assigned cases to play various roles in the mock interviews, helping to create a more realistic experience for the boys.
The Final Step
By October 2024, the family faced their most critical moment yet: the boys’ asylum interviews in Washington, D.C. Nerves were high, but they arrived early, taking time to explore the capital and momentarily escape the weight of their past. The interviews were grueling—each lasting three hours—but they were prepared. They had a strong case, thorough documentation, and the courage to recount the trauma they had endured. Two of our attorneys attended the interviews with the family, acting as advocates for them during the interviews
Then, the call came. In an unprecedented six months—cases like theirs typically take years—the boys received asylum.
Ezra Rash, Attorney and Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow at the Advocacy Center, dialed the mother’s phone. She answered anxiously. “Wow,” she whispered in disbelief. The tears came first, then joy. Her sons, now in school, broke down in relief when they heard the news. Their future was secure.
A New Beginning
With asylum granted, the family now has the chance to rebuild. They can apply for work authorization, housing assistance, and health insurance. We will continue to work with them to adjust their status as they work toward permanent residency, and eventually, citizenship. The boys may even become citizens before they turn 18.
Their journey was one of resilience, and it was made possible through legal advocacy. The Advocacy Center fights for families like theirs every day—because everyone deserves the chance to live without fear.