LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Outside of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in downtown Las Vegas, people line up in hopes of resolving immigration-related issues. For many, it’s a pivotal step in navigating the complexities of the U.S. immigration system.
Among them is Elvis Bustamente, who traveled more than 3,500 miles from Ecuador, fleeing violence and seeking refuge in the United States.
“Yes, I am here asking for refuge to see if I can get out of that situation that I was going through in my country because I cannot return at this time,” Bustamente said in Spanish.
Fearing for his life, Bustamente left everything behind, believing staying in Ecuador would result in his death. Now, he finds himself navigating the complex asylum process in Las Vegas.
“I had an appointment for today, but they said they are having problems and so they postponed it for another date,” he said. “So, I will have to come back on that other date they set.”
Nevada State Sen. Edgar Flores, an immigration attorney, explains that asylum seekers face significant challenges. To qualify for asylum, applicants must prove persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
“So you’ll hear horrifying stories at times of folks that were shot, that lost a family member to a dangerous gang or someone who was forced to leave a particular job site,” Flores explained. “And even though he they can prove all that, sometimes they arrive here and unfortunately don’t qualify.”
Flores noted that the asylum process is not only challenging but also time-consuming, with some cases taking over five years to resolve.
“It is time consuming, it’s resource heavy on the court, resource heavy on the government, resource heavy on the client, resource heavy on attorneys,” Flores shared. “It’s why we really do need to create a much better and cleaner path for our asylum seekers.”
Despite the uncertainty, Bustamente remains hopeful.
“I think God is great and I have the hope that all of this will be ok,” Bustamente expressed.
As the asylum process continues, Bustamente places his faith in perseverance and patience.
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