Nearly two and half years after President Obama’s Executive Action offering the opportunity for minors from Central America to access the refugee resettlement program, Hilda Galvez, a Honduran native, cried joyfully as her five-year-old son, Ever, was escorted through the gate at Newark Airport near midnight on March 9, 2017.

Hilda gave birth to Ever in Honduras in 2011. After just two months, she left for the United States, already having obtained legal permanent residency through a previous marriage. She entrusted Ever to her aunt, hoping she would be able to establish herself quickly, start working, then send for Ever to join her in New Jersey. Unfortunately, the process proved more complicated, and after consulting with several immigration attorneys here, she had little hope of reuniting with her son. 

In 2014, during a visit with her attorney, Hilda found out about the new Central American Minors program. She called the International Rescue Committee, one of only three refugee resettlement organizations in New Jersey authorized to process these Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) family reunification petitions through the Department of State. Despite living nearly an hour from IRC’s office, Hilda made several trips to Elizabeth during the 24+ month application process.

After providing detailed information about herself and her family members to IRC staff in Elizabeth, Hilda’s application was passed along to IRC Headquarters, then forwarded to and reviewed by the Department of State’s Refugee Processing Center. Upon acceptance, the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) in Latin America, operated by the International Office of Migration and headquartered in El Salvador, received the application.

Mother reunites with her 5-Year-Old Son from Honduras
Mother reunites with her 5-Year-Old Son from Honduras
Photo: Dana Halwani

Months and years followed as Hilda, her son Ever and her aunt, Ever’s guardian in Tegucigalpa, completed interviews with RSC and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services staff in Honduras. DNA testing had to be completed by both Hilda and Ever to confirm their biological relationship. Medical exams were performed. Travel and exit permissions for a minor child had to be finalized. Though Ever was approved to travel to the U.S. as a refugee, recent executive orders suspending the refugee admissions program for 120 days, added another layer of uncertainty to hopes for reuniting with her son.

Just three days before Ever’s plane was scheduled to arrive, President Trump signed his March 6th Executive Order suspending the refugee program for 120 days. Because the order wasn’t going into effect until March 16th, Ever’s travel was luckily not affected. The following week, a U.S. district judge issued a temporary restraining order that prevented the suspension from taking effect. On March 9th, Ever arrived at Newark Airport.

Hilda is so happy to have her son within arm’s reach. She feared daily for her son and her aunt’s well-being in Honduras, especially after her aunt received death threats from people who knew money was being wired from the U.S. – money that Hilda sent from her paycheck for Ever’s basic needs.

Since 2010, Honduras has had one of the highest murder rates in the world. According to Reuters reporting in 2016, “The government estimates 174,000 Hondurans were internally displaced across the country because of gang violence between 2004 and 2014.” The capital city, Tegucigalpa, is notorious for threats of gang violence.

Hilda said she heard stories on the radio, TV and online about children being kidnapped and raped. “I was so scared of losing my son in such a violent way. I would call my aunt and say, ‘Please don’t take him out. Please be careful.’ I am so thankful for [the IRC] and for everyone who worked so hard on my case. And I’m so thankful for this country who allowed him to join me here.”

For now, Ever is getting used to life in New Jersey. He will start Kindergarten in September and is getting reacquainted with his mother and two siblings with whom he lives. He misses his aunt very much – she remains in Honduras - but talks to her every day. Hilda looks forward to spending her first Mother’s Day with the son she missed for over five years.

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