CINCINNATI — Life for Emerson Colindres has just lately been flipped the wrong way up.
Earlier this month, the 19-year-old attended what he thought was a routine check-in with immigration officers together with his household. He was as a substitute detained and held on the Butler County jail for roughly two weeks.
He was deported again to his residence nation of Honduras earlier this week.
WCPO 9 spoke to Colindres over FaceTime on Saturday night. He mentioned he is doing okay and mentioned he is blissful to not be in jail.
“You have been in there 22 hours within the cell doing nothing,” Colindres mentioned. “That is loopy, like that is all like mentally draining.”
Hear extra from Colindres and his expertise of being deported within the video beneath:
Cincinnati teen speaks out on deportation to Honduras
His household moved to the USA in 2014, looking for asylum after claims of gang exercise towards them in Honduras.
Nevertheless, their asylum case was denied in 2023.
“To me, it was sort of extra traumatizing as a result of I have never been to my delivery nation in years,” Colindres mentioned.
He mentioned the expertise of being detained and deported was exhausting.
“The entire flight I used to be handcuffed like we’re some huge criminals or one thing like that,” Colindres mentioned. “Thoughts you, lots of people in there have not dedicated no crimes, like myself included.”
Colindres’ mom and sister weren’t detained when Colindres was, however they have been instructed that they had 30 days to go away the nation.
Colindres mentioned he expects them to affix him in Honduras someday subsequent week.
“Hopefully I get to see them quickly trigger I actually miss them rather a lot,” Colindres mentioned.
Throughout Colindres’ detainment on the Butler County Jail, dozens of associates, household and strangers protested his arrest exterior of the jail.
“I noticed that individuals actually love me and actually would do plenty of issues for me,” Colindres mentioned.
Even by way of all of this, Colindres mentioned he feels blessed. He mentioned he is grateful he was capable of return to Honduras safely.
“Issues occur for a purpose, simply do not lose religion in God and he is aware of finest,” Colindres mentioned.
