Two Durham Elementary Students Deported to Honduras

Family of four, including two young children, detained and removed from U.S. despite active asylum case

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:08pm

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A serene, nostalgic painting of a school bus parked on a residential street, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a contemplative mood that reflects the human impact of the family's deportation.The deportation of two young students from their Durham community has cast a somber shadow over the neighborhood.Durham Today

A Durham-based family of four, including two elementary school students, has been deported to Honduras after being detained by federal immigration officials during a routine check-in appointment. The family had been attending regular check-ins as part of an active asylum case, but were suddenly detained and deported without their belongings, according to local advocacy groups.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the aggressive enforcement of immigration laws, even in cases where families are actively engaged with the legal system and pose no threat to public safety. The deportation of the two young students has disrupted their education and separated them from their community, raising questions about the human impact of these policies.

The details

The family, which includes parents Nelson Ramon Espinoza Sierra and Dacia Mariela Pacheco Galindo and their children Genesis Elizabeth Espinoza Pacheco, 11, and Denis Daniel Espinoza Pacheco, 6, had been living in Durham for four years and attending regular check-ins with immigration officials as part of an active asylum case. However, during a routine appointment in Charlotte on Monday, the family was suddenly detained and deported to Honduras on Wednesday, with their phones confiscated and no opportunity to contact family or legal counsel.

  • The family was detained by immigration officials on Monday, April 8, 2026 during a routine check-in appointment in Charlotte.
  • The family was deported to Honduras on Wednesday, April 10, 2026.

The players

Nelson Ramon Espinoza Sierra

The father in the deported family.

Dacia Mariela Pacheco Galindo

The mother in the deported family.

Genesis Elizabeth Espinoza Pacheco

The 11-year-old daughter in the deported family, a student at Burton Elementary Magnet School.

Denis Daniel Espinoza Pacheco

The 6-year-old son in the deported family, a student at Burton Elementary Magnet School.

Siembra NC

A local advocacy group that is supporting the deported family and condemning their treatment.

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What they’re saying

“Genesis and Denis's family was doing exactly what the system asked of them. They were showing up, fulfilling their legal obligations as they seek refuge, and in response, ICE detains them, denies them due process, and takes them from our community.”

— Andreina Malki, Defense Manager, Siembra NC

“Genesis is an important part of our classroom and school community. She is a giving little girl who leads in her heart. We're lost without her. We miss her smile. We miss her laughter. We miss her tremendously.”

— Brandon Daniel, 5th Grade Teacher

“We might not be able to stop what is happening, but we can expose it, and we can call on the transparency that our law necessitates. We will be witnesses, and to the extent possible, we will document what is happening, and we will help provide rapid response assistance.”

— Sophia Chitlik, State Senator

What’s next

State Senator Sophia Chitlik pledged that she and other elected officials will accompany immigrants to their immigration hearings to document the process and provide rapid response assistance as detentions at routine check-ins become more common.

The takeaway

This case highlights the human toll of aggressive immigration enforcement, even against families actively engaged with the legal system. It underscores the need for greater transparency, oversight, and compassion in how immigration policies are implemented to avoid further disrupting the lives of vulnerable community members.