For twenty years, Steven worked in an auto body shop in Los Angeles. He was brought there from Honduras by his mother when he was eleven years old but never applied for legal status. Then, one day, immigration officials came to his workplace. “They started asking for papers.” He was deported and arrived at Tochan, a shelter in Mexico City, in late November. He worked construction for a week. “I was paid 250 pesos ($15) for twelve to fifteen hours. I got sick from inhaling so much dust. I decided it was not worth it. In the United States, I earned $1000 a week, worked eight hours a day.” He has applied for asylum in Mexico, a process that may take up to a year. In the meantime, he helps out at Tochan.

“I open the door, see if people are sick. I help in any way I can.”