The pair face a difficult legal battle that is causing some concern among immigration advocates. Until last month, it had been 15 years since this mother had seen her two eldest children. Her youngest, a U.S.-born citizen, had never even met her siblings.
"Everything they've been through. It's just horrible," said Angie Ordonez, sister.
Miguel Angel Maradiaga, 16, and his sister Michell, 18, are Honduran nationals. They were detained at the border last may when they tried to enter the United States illegally to reunite with their mother and sister who live in Waukegan. They are among the tens of thousands of other unaccompanied Central American minors and teenagers currently requesting political asylum. Four years ago, the Maradiagas witnessed a triple murder in their native Honduras. After they filled out a police report, the death threats began.
"We had to move three times," said Miguel Angel, through a translator. "The gangs were trying to recruit us. We didn't just come here to come."
According to the United Nations, Honduras has the highest murder rate worldwide. But despite the growing crisis at the southern U.S. border, there are many who believe the United States simply can't afford to let all these children stay.
"These children that are coming in, first of all, are not all children. They're not refugees. We cannot be a welfare state without borders. It just doesn't work," said Carl Segvich, candidate for Cook County Commissioner.
Scheduled to appear before a federal immigration judge on Wednesday, Miguel Maradiaga just wants more time and a chance to appeal his case. So does his mother.
"It's a blessing to be in this country," said Olga Casco, through a translator. "Unfortunately it's not an easy situation."
The crisis of unaccompanied minors entering the United States illegally has already reached Chicago, and not all of them have family here. Some reports estimate that around 500 children are currently being housed in Chicago area shelters."