Honduran migrants in South Carolina fear a hostile president

Honduran migrants in South Carolina are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the US election .

For many, these elections are much more than a change of leadership; they are a decision that could mark their permanence or return to a country from which they left in search of a better future.

In neighborhoods across at least 11 cities in South Carolina, Hondurans are torn between hope for a supportive administration and fear of a presidency that could threaten their stability in the country.

“We are worried. We come here to raise our children, and a political decision could destroy our dreams,” says Karla Patricia Hernández, originally from Olancho.

Between the fear of deportation and the American dream

For many migrants, the possibility of a Donald Trump victory represents a real threat.

His anti-immigrant rhetoric and promise of strict deportation policies are stirring fear in those who have built a life in the United States.

“We are all leaving for Honduras because he has said that if he wins, he will deport the migrants. There is concern in the Hispanic community about the outcome of these elections.”

Sarahí Maldonado, from Ocotepeque , who has been in the United States for four years, shares the anguish. She fears that her children, born in this country, will not be recognized as citizens under a hostile administration.

“Trump has said that he will not take them into account, that is what worries us. We live here, we have a life here, but it seems that we are always on the edge of uncertainty,” explains Sarahí, who adds that racism and restrictive immigration policies are a constant that they have to face daily.

Without support from his own country

In addition to the difficulties they face in the United States, Honduran migrants also feel a lack of support from authorities in their own country.

Sarahí shares her experience with the Honduran consulate in Charlotte, North Carolina , where she tried to get help renewing her passport and processing her identity.

“Six months ago I lost my papers. I went several times, they gave me an appointment, but they never gave me the documents. It’s frustrating. That’s proof of the little support we have from our government.”

Frustration over the lack of response from Honduran authorities is an open wound in this community, which feels helpless both in the country they left and in the one they now live in.

“Without documents, we are adrift. And if we don’t have the support of our consulate, what can we expect in such uncertain times?” Sarahí laments.

A vote that defines your destiny

Despite the challenges and difficulties, many Hondurans in South Carolina are hopeful that the outcome of these elections can bring about positive change.

For them, a Kamala Harris victory symbolizes the possibility of less restrictive immigration policies, of a country where their children can grow up and fulfill their dreams without fear of being deported.

On November 5, the Honduran community will be attentive to every update of the electoral process.

In homes, churches and family gatherings, Honduran migrants will gather to closely follow each step of the elections, aware that their fate could change dramatically in a matter of hours.

The Honduran migrant community in South Carolina dreams of a United States where they can belong and grow without fear.

Regardless of the outcome, they know they will have to continue fighting to find their place in a country that sometimes rejects them, but still represents hope for their children.

Because for them, staying means fighting for the right to build a dignified life, a desire to belong that does not fade with a choice, but is strengthened by each obstacle.