Teen Soccer Talent Emerson Colindres Deported to Honduras

At just 19 years old, aspiring professional soccer player Emerson Colindres has spoken out publicly following his deportation from the United States to Honduras.

Colindres, who had recently graduated from high school in Cincinnati, was detained, held in jail for several weeks, and then deported. Despite having no criminal record, he was taken into custody during a routine immigration check on June 4, with his mother present.

During the detention, immigration agents questioned him about his future plans, family, and whereabouts, leaving him confused and distressed. His mother recounted his words: “Mom, you’ll never imagine the questions they were asking me. They asked if I knew where I was going, if I had family here. I didn’t know what to tell them.”

Emerson Colindres (right) was detained and eventually deported to Honduras.

Hearing of his detention, his mother expressed heartbreak. She shared that she had left Honduras when Emerson was just 8 years old and had little recall of her homeland. Her first interaction with him after detention was heartbreaking, as she described his arrest being in front of her, and the pain of seeing her son in handcuffs.

Emerson, now back in Honduras, admitted that the separation was deeply painful. “What hurt the most was being arrested in front of my mom,” he said. “I told myself I’d never want her to see me in handcuffs or jail.”

The family migrated to the U.S. in 2014, but their asylum application was denied, and they received a final removal order in 2023. Emerson longs to reunite with his mother and sister, who are scheduled to leave for Honduras on Monday.

Reflecting on his feelings, he said, “I miss my mom and sister. I want to see them. When will I see them again? I was really sad, but I know I have to stay strong.”