Two Durham Elementary Students Torn From Their Classrooms and Deported to Honduras

In a stark example of ICE’s brutal overreach, a family of four from Durham—including two elementary school children, ages 11 and 6—was deported to Honduras after being detained at a routine immigration check-in. The family, who had lived in North Carolina for four years and had no criminal history, was taken into custody by federal immigration officials on Monday during their scheduled appointment in Charlotte.

Advocates from Siembra NC and local Durham officials condemned the deportation as an unjust act that tears apart families and communities. “Genesis and Denis’s family was doing exactly what the system asked of them,” said Andreina Malki, Siembra NC’s defense manager. “They were showing up, fulfilling their legal obligations as they seek refuge, and in response, ICE detains them, denies them due process, and takes them from our community.”

The children, who were active students at Burton Elementary, left behind teachers and classmates who describe them as vital, caring members of their school. “We miss their smiles. We miss their laughter,” said the president of the Durham Association of Educators, reading a statement from Genesis’s fifth grade teacher.

ICE claims the family entered the U.S. illegally in 2021 and missed a hearing that led to a judge ordering their removal. However, Siembra NC disputes these assertions, maintaining the family had no knowledge of any missed appointments and was actively pursuing asylum. The family’s phones were confiscated at the time of detention, cutting off communication with relatives and legal counsel.

Durham officials, including State Senator Sophia Chitlik and County Commissioner Chair Nida Allam, vowed to increase oversight and support for immigrant communities facing similar ICE tactics. “This isn’t about keeping our community safe, this is just about terror and tearing up our families,” Allam said.

The family was deported without their belongings, forced to start over with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Siembra NC has launched a fundraiser that has already raised $22,000 to help the family rebuild their lives in Honduras.

This case lays bare the cruelty of immigration enforcement under the current administration—punishing families who comply with the system and weaponizing routine check-ins to detain and deport. It’s a call to action for Durham and beyond: to demand transparency, accountability, and an end to the terror inflicted on immigrant communities.