“I’ve been waiting to come home for 27 years”

When Carlos Sauceda was 11 years old, he migrated from Honduras to the United States to reunite with his mother, who had come to the U.S. in search of a better life when Carlos was a baby. However, life in Southern California wasn’t easy for Carlos. Growing up in an area with heavy gang activity made him feel that the only way to survive was to join a gang. This led to tragic consequences. At 15 years old, Carlos was prosecuted as an adult, pleaded guilty to a gang-related murder, and was sentenced to 15-years-to-life. During his time in prison Carlos committed himself to becoming a better person. After serving 22 years, the California parole board granted his release due to his leadership and rehabilitation. Carlos thought he was finally going home. Instead, he was sent to immigrant detention. After two years of abuses, and despite winning his immigration case, Carlos feared he would die before ever being free and reluctantly agreed to his deportation. Carlos continued to fight his immigration case from overseas while longing to return home. After more than two years, he finally prevailed in his immigration case, but ICE is refusing to allow him back into the country. He has the right to #Return2US, but now he faces an array of legal hurdles and a dysfunctional federal immigration system to do so.