CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction Thursday morning that will keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from deporting a Honduran woman and her son.
Channel 9 reported about the mother and her 14-year-old son last week. The two are hoping the federal immigration court in Charlotte can protect them from the dangerous MS-13 gang.
“They're very happy with the judge's decision,” attorney Jackie Kline said.
[Family asks Charlotte court for protection from dangerous MS-13 gang]
The mother, Maria, whose last name is not being used to protect her, has said that she is afraid that she and her son would be killed by the gang if they return to Honduras.
“They don't want to be identified and they don't want to be filmed because it puts their lives in danger in their home country,” Kline said.
Channel 9's coverage on MS-13 gang:
- 9 Investigates: An inside look at how feds took down MS-13 in Charlotte
- PART 2: An inside look at how feds took down MS-13 in Charlotte
- IN PHOTOS: Guns seized during MS-13 investigation
- AG message to MS-13 gang members: 'We will find you'
- Sessions ramps up crackdown on MS-13 with drug enforcement
Maria said she recently found out the MS-13 gang in Honduras killed her sister, thinking it was her, and killed her nephew with a machete.
Kline told Judge Graham Mullen that he was the only one standing between them and the return to Honduras.
The government's attorney argued that Maria's known all along, they are here illegally and they are trying to use the court system to buy time.
The judge ruled that Maria and her son cannot be deported before their appeal is heard by the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Immigration attorney Andres Lopez said Maria’s is only temporary, but it good news for others fighting to stay.
“I would say that there's hope, that you should never give up on a case, especially if the federal court is willing to step in,” Lopez said.
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