For over a year, Elías Padilla had been saving up to make the journey from Honduras to the United States as an undocumented immigrant. As an Uber driver in the snarled streets of the capital, Tegucigalpa, it hasn't been easy for him to put money aside. On bad days he makes as little as $12 (£9) in 12 hours.
Now, though, his plans are on hold. The images of undocumented immigrants in major US cities being dragged away by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have deterred at least one would-be immigrant in Central America from travelling north.
I want to improve my life conditions because we earn very little here, Elías explains as we drive around the city. Take this line of work, for example: an Uber driver in the US makes in an hour what I'd make in a day. Like most Honduran immigrants, Elías says the main aim of reaching the US would be to send remittances home. Yet, witnessing the current immigration climate, he decides to wait and see how the changes in government affect his prospects.
The crackdown on illegal immigration has inadvertently contributed to a surge in remittances being sent back to Honduras. In fact, between January and October this year, there was a 26% rise in remittances to Honduras compared to the previous year. While many Hondurans fear for their future in the U.S., they are also aware that their families back home rely heavily on this financial assistance.
Hondurans like Marcos, working in construction, report sending more money home due to an increasing sense of urgency. It's like a race against time to send home as much as possible before facing potential deportation, he explains. Remittances, which could cover daily needs or save for future investments like land or housing, take priority.
Despite the many warnings against their immigrant status and the fear of being apprehended, the drive to support families across borders remains strong. As the story unfolds, the reality for Hondurans is that even under constraints, their intent to provide for their families will endure.
