Emerson Colindres, a high school graduate and soccer standout from Ohio, was recently deported to Honduras despite having no criminal record. The 19-year-old described his deportation experience as traumatic, being handcuffed throughout the deportation flight to a country he had not visited in years. Colindres spoke about the mental toll of his pre-deportation detention, where he spent hours daily in a jail cell doing nothing.

His deportation contradicts claims that the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown targets dangerous criminals, as Colindres was a star athlete with no criminal history. Teachers and teammates protested his detention, emphasizing his positive impact in the community. Colindres highlighted the unjust treatment he and others faced on the deportation flight, despite lacking criminal backgrounds.

Colindres and his family came to the US seeking asylum due to gang-related threats in Honduras, but their application was denied, leading to a removal order. The Trump administration’s immigration policies have increasingly targeted individuals without criminal histories, such as students, for deportation, emphasizing adherence to removal orders.

Despite the challenges, Colindres remains hopeful, expressing gratitude for the support shown during his ordeal. He plans to pursue his soccer dreams in Honduras and reunite with his family soon. Colindres’s story sheds light on the human impact of immigration policies and the resilience needed to navigate such circumstances.