For nearly three years, Abbie Arevalo lived in the basement of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, where she sought sanctuary from deportation to Honduras.
After nearly three years living in Richmond church to avoid deportation, an immigrant leaves sanctuary Abbie Arevalo-Herrera sits in the sanctuary of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, where she has been living for nearly two years to avoid deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement as she seeks asylum. (Source: Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) By Ned Oliver | March 2, 2021 at 8:05 AM EST - Updated March 2 at 8:05 AM
A Honduran woman who sheltered in the basement of a Richmond church for nearly three years to avoid deportation by ICE has moved back in with her family in Henrico.
Abbie Arevalo and her lawyer cited new guidelines issued by President Joe Biden’s administration, which allowed her to obtain a one-year stay of removal while her asylum case works its way through immigration courts.