Emerson Colindres, a 19-year-old high school graduate and standout soccer player in Ohio, was arrested by immigration authorities and deported to Honduras this week, despite having no criminal record. Colindres, who had been in the US since he was eight years old, was detained during a routine ICE appointment in Cincinnati on June 4th. His parents expressed shock and concern over his deportation to a country he barely knows.

Supporters, including teachers and teammates, protested Colindres’ detention at the Butler county jail before he was transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana. Bryan Williams, Colindres’ soccer coach, highlighted the plight of many individuals facing similar situations, emphasizing their efforts to build better lives for themselves and their families.

The case reflects the increasing targeting of non-criminal immigrants under the Trump administration’s immigration policies. While officials claim to focus on criminals and those with removal orders, data shows a rise in the arrest of individuals without criminal histories. Colindres and his family had received a final removal order in 2023 after their asylum application was denied, leading to his deportation.

ICE raids have intensified as the administration aims for a minimum of 3,000 daily immigration arrests. The story of Emerson Colindres sheds light on the challenges faced by many young immigrants in the US and the impact of immigration policies on their lives and futures.