Texas Mom Fights to Reunite with Son Stuck in Honduras as Absent Dad Blocks Return: 'I Wanna Come Back'

A Texas mother's weekslong fight to bring her teenage son home may take much longer than expected.

Ingrid Garcia was left heartbroken when Honduran immigration authorities blocked her 15-year-old son from returning home with her to the U.S.

The reason was due to a requirement of consent from his father who has been absent for over a decade.

Their December 23 trip to Honduras was meant to be a joyous reunion with family, but it became an ordeal when immigration officials refused to let Jahir board the return flight, according to ABC7.

Garcia lives in Houston and divorced Jahir's father when the boy was 3 years old. Since then, she's been a single mom working in construction and recently became a U.S. citizen.

"They said I can't bring my son back because I need permission from his dad, but I told them that I have the custody and he lives with me," Garcia told Eyewitness News.

Despite holding full custody, Honduran officials demanded a notarized letter of consent from Jahir's absent father.

Immigration attorney Kim Bruno said such situations, though rare, have become more common with increased efforts to combat child trafficking. "Our borders being flooded with people bringing children over that we couldn't identify or find who they even belonged to," Bruno explained.

The ordeal has left Garcia and Jahir nearly 2,000 miles apart. Jahir is staying with his grandmother in Honduras while Garcia navigates legal and diplomatic barriers to bring him home.

"I wanna come back," Jahir told his mother over the phone. Jahir, while in Honduras, developed kidney stones and is scheduled for surgery.

Garcia's immediate options are limited. According to Bruno, obtaining a notarized letter from Jahir's father is one avenue. "I've been divorced for 10 years, and it's hard to have that communication with him," Garcia said.

Another potential path involves enlisting the help of U.S. lawmakers. Congressman Dan Crenshaw's office has pledged to assist, according to local news. It's unclear when the mother and son will be reunited.