Rody Oliva, 29, and his daughter Maria, 12, from San Esteban, Olancho department, of Honduras arrived at the church hall of the Basilica of San Albino in Mesilla, NM for a night after being released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In his home country he worked milking cows earning 1,000 Honduran Lempira ($40) per week. “It only payed for our food,” he described of his wages that he had to spread between himself, his wife and three kids.

He made the decision with his daughter to leave their home and come to the United States because he was ordered to pay a tax of 1,000 Lempiras by a gang for his daughter. He feared if he didn’t continue paying, his daughter’s life would be in danger.

Rody said it was difficult leaving behind his family in Honduras, “I would never abandon them,” he said, “I am coming here for fear of my daughter’s life”


After Roly and Maria’s difficult month long journey through Mexico, which ended with four days in immigration custody, he plans to go to his cousins in Louisiana.

 

Rody Olivas, 29, y su hija María, 12, son de San Esteban, Departamento de Olancho, en Honduras, llegaron a la Basílica de la Iglesia de San Albino en Mesilla, NM por una noche después de haber sido puesto en libertad por el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas.

En su país de origen, trabaja ordeñando vacas con un sueldo de 1,000 Lempiras ($40) por semana. “Solo alcanzaba para nuestro alimento” describía sobre su ingreso que tenía que compartir entre él, su esposa, y sus tres hijos.

Tomó la decisión de dejar su hogar and venir a los Estados Unidos con su hija porque lo obligaron a pagar un impuesto para su hija de 1,000 Lempiras de parte de una pandilla.  El temía que, si no seguía pagando, la vida de su hija corría peligro.

Rody dijo que fue difícil dejar atrás a su familia en Honduras, “Yo nunca los abandonaría,” dijo él, “Yo vengo aquí por temor a la vida de mi hija.”

Después de una difícil y larga jornada de un mes por México para Rody y María, que resultó en cuatro días en custodia de inmigración, su plan es de ir a Louisana con su primo.

The Faces of Immigration Project is a 40 Day photo journal series used to highlight the stories of all Immigrants. The project is meant to shed light on some of the many reasons people have for immigrating to the U.S. Statements and stories have been edited for content, clarity, and brevity and may not reflect the entirety of an Immigrant’s reasons for immigrating to the United States.

By Paul Ratje

 

 

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