It’s been almost a year since Bayfield business owner and family man Edin Ramos was deported in May 2018 to his home country of Honduras, where he fled 15 years ago due to violence and political unrest.
His wife, Thalia, has been taking care of their three kids and managing their two businesses in Bayfield since he was detained in February 2018.
“Mostly I try not to focus too much on our situation and more so on just what needs to be done – where do I go from here?” Thalia said.
Edin had been living in the United States undocumented since 2003. Thalia, who was born and raised in Fort Collins, met Edin though his mother, who she worked with at Walmart while she was an international studies student at Fort Lewis College. They married in 2006, but Edin struggled to receive citizenship.
He was detained by ICE in 2012 but was granted a stay of removal, temporary postponement, every year up until 2017.
“Our family’s case really highlights the absurdities and complexities of immigration law because everyone who knows us and knows our story has a hard time believing this could happen,” Thalia said. “You want to keep people like my husband in the country because he is helping to build the country. He is not breaking the law or selling drugs, all those stereotypes.”
Thalia said that deporting people like Edin gives immigrants an incentive to fly under the radar and not attempt to fix their status.
“For me, the frustrating thing about the whole system is your outcome depends a lot on your attorney,” she said. “So if you have a good attorney to begin with, your outcome might be better.”
Thalia said that she talks with Edin every day through WhatsApp and he helps out with their medical facility cleaning business, Sun Cleaning, and commercial laundry business, Sun Linen Services, as much as he can from a different country. Sun Linen may even expand.
The Ramoses were having a home built in a semi-rural area in central Honduras prior to Edin’s deportation. He is living in that home now. Thalia said the area is a safer part of the country compared to the urban areas. They had the home built as a second summer home or as a potential option for their family if the country became safer.
“Obviously, you hope for the best and do everything you can do to avoid that, but obviously, there is no guarantee,” Thalia said.
Edin’s dad and some extended family live about 45 minutes away from their Honduras home. But moving to Honduras right now is not an option for Thalia and their kids.
“Honduras is an unstable country. There is a lot of violence there,” she said. “Mostly for our kids, they are still in school. The education system there is subpar, so it is important to us, wherever we go, that they have access to a good education.”
Thalia said that it is also very difficult to find work in Honduras. Most jobs don’t pay well, and the cost of living is fairly high.
Reuniting their family in the near future seems unlikely. Edin must wait 10 years to apply for a return waiver. She said they are considering an application for a short-term work visa.
“We are still evaluating our options, but at this point, our options are pretty limited as to either him being able to come here or us possibly going elsewhere,” Thalia said. “We are not sure what we are doing yet.”
She said they were able to visit Edin in Honduras twice last year. He connects with his kids through video chat as much as possible. Their two sons, who are in fifth and second grade, and daughter, who is in fourth grade, are doing well, Thalia said. The oldest son’s football team went undefeated last season and all three of the children are in wrestling.
“I’ll send the wrestling videos to their dad,” Thalia said. “I told a friend of mine, ‘If they are not fine, then I am not fine.’ They are my first priority. Anything else for me doesn’t matter as much as making sure they are doing well.”
Thalia credits her children and her faith in God for her resilience. Women who find themselves in similar situations should not give up and surround themselves with friends, family and the community, she said.
“We are struggling, but that means we are still here and haven’t given up.”
prt@pinerivertimes.com
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