Carlos Bernate

Photographer

carlosbernate.net

That Place Called Home

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School: Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano

When facing deportation and the...'t enforce detentions.

When facing deportation and the possibility of returning to her native Honduras where the father of her first child had threatened to kill her, Abbie Arevalo-Herrera took sanctuary in the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Richmond, Virginia on June 20, 2018.

In the picture Abbie Arevalo holding her son "Gabriel" and to the right her daughter "Marcela" pose for a portrait at the basement of the First UU church.

Thanks to a "2011" memo during The Obama administration and signed by then ICE director John Morton, stablished different locations as "Sensitives Locations", so that churches or other institutions of worship became places where law enforcement couldn't enforce detentions.

Abbie's daughter playin...e and her children could leave.

Abbie's daughter playing with her brother in the nursery area of the church where they have access to toy's and a bigger and more illuminated space.

Even when a sanctuary is a space of protection against oppression, the changes of light manage to discover that this symbol of protection also becomes an invisible prison of which it is not known when Abbie and her children could leave.

"Marcela" and...her family is finally reunited.

"Marcela" and "Gabriel" at their new room in the basement of the First UU church.

One of the hardest conversations that I had with Abbie was about her kids. Abbie had to leave her younger daughter "Ana" when she crossed the border because of "Ana's" young age she was concerned that she wouldn't make it and taking just one kid with her was hard enough. Abbie also describe it as "I left a part of my soul in Honduras", and for this moment on Abbie said that she will always feel some kind of emptiness until her family is finally reunited.

"Marcela" in ...e enjoy those lights together.

"Marcela" in the celebration of the 4th of July watching the fireworks by herself.

That night was hard for everyone, A big number of police officers where around the church and that made everyone at the sanctuary really nervous to be outside but "Marcela" wanted to go and see the fireworks so bad, so Abbie asked me to go with her and for a few seconds we enjoy those lights together.

Angela Ramirez from Honduras, c...e her new life in Richmond, VA.

Angela Ramirez from Honduras, crosses the US border with the hope that one of her children, who suffers from a heart disease can have the surgery he needs to survive. She is deceived by an acquaintance of her community who promises her that her son will have a better chance of doing it in the United States. After her arrival in the country this man made her live a hell from which she managed to escape after a week of confinement in an apartment in Nashville, TN.

Now she is safe trying to make her new life in Richmond, VA.

Elsy Osorio from El Salvador ha...an American immigration system.

Elsy Osorio from El Salvador has experienced the greatest possible pain. Her 10-year-old daughter was abused by her father who is now a fugitive from justice. Full of courage, She make the decision to denounce him and confront the inhuman American immigration system.

Maria at the car that will be h...he persecution received by ICE.

Maria at the car that will be her only way out of the persecution received by ICE.

They had to leave almost everyt...eal moment for all of us there.

They had to leave almost everything, Maria just leave in a rush putting a few personal belongings and clothing in bags.
When she came down Maria was looking and smiling at her partner, like she was in automatic. It was a surreal moment for all of us there.

Maria about to speak during her...d activists from the community.

Maria about to speak during her press conference where they publicly express that Maria has been accepted into sanctuary by the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church at Charlottesville. At her back Pastors of different religions beliefs and at her side her new lawyer Alina Kilpatrick and activists from the community.

Maria in her home looks out to ...to help keep it from dying out.

Maria in her home looks out to the window at the sight of an ICE agent, since her day of deportation is current and could arrive at her door any time.

Maria Chavalan Sut, indigenous woman from Guatemala in her home looking out to the window at the sight of an ICE agent, since her day of deportation is current and ICE could arrive at her door any time. She fled to the United States after individuals threatened to kill her in an effort to usurp her land. The seriousness of the threat is not in question: they set fire to her home in Guatemala City while Maria and her family were inside. They lost all their possessions.

It all started when she had to flee Guatemala for her life and was able to come to Virginia. She has been working multiple jobs in order to send money back home to support her children and to rebuild the home her family lost in the fire. Employers in Guatemala would not hire her because she is an indigenous person. Even still, she taught mathematics to underprivileged children and also worked at a self-publishing company producing materials in her native Keqchikel language to help keep it from dying out.

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Thumbnail of When facing deportation and the _n't enforce detentions.

Thumbnail of Abbie's daughter playing_ie and her children could leave.

Thumbnail of "Marcela" and _ her family is finally reunited.

Thumbnail of "Marcela" in t_we enjoy those lights together.

Thumbnail of Angela Ramirez from Honduras, cr_ke her new life in Richmond, VA.

Thumbnail of Elsy Osorio from El Salvador has_man American immigration system.

Thumbnail of Maria at the car that will be he_the persecution received by ICE.

Thumbnail of They had to leave almost everyth_real moment for all of us there.

Thumbnail of Maria about to speak during her _nd activists from the community.

Thumbnail of Maria in her home looks out to t_ to help keep it from dying out.

Public Project

That Place Called Home

Copyright Carlos Bernate 2025

Updated Mar 2022

Location Richmond, VA

Topics Documentary, Immigration, Journalism, Latin America, Migration, Photography, Social Justice, Spotlight, Violence, Womens Rights

The patriarchal system, openly present in many Latin American homes, is a dark stain on our shared history. In some cases, this violence is so subtle and ephemeral that no one sees or hears it. It vanishes as quickly as it appears—serving only those who oppress. For centuries, we’ve fed on this violence, now normalized, which has seeped into our homes like ink on paper. It is so deeply rooted within us that it has poisoned entire families, leaving behind devastating consequences. My own home was a stage for these forms of violence. And because I saw it everywhere, I came to believe it was normal. When I arrived in Richmond, Virginia, in 2017, I was forced to confront this reality again—one that spreads like a plague, even in what should be the safest place for an undocumented immigrant in the United States: their home. U.S. immigration policies have created the perfect conditions for these stories to remain hidden. Victims are often too afraid to speak out or report their abusers.

The rollback of legal protections for women fleeing domestic violence has only deepened this crisis. Abusers now weaponize these changes, lying to victims, telling them that no one will believe them if they speak up. Some might argue this fear is justified—and that's why many remain in the shadows. But little by little, more people are beginning to take action. The women I began documenting in 2017, through 2018 and 2019, are among those who have not only stood up to their abusers but now strive to be a beacon for others. They want other victims to know they are not alone—and that support exists within the community.

This photographic essay aims to shed light on a hidden, painful aspect of life in Latin American homes in the United States. It reveals how entrenched power dynamics are deepening—fueled by immigration policies that embolden abusers—and how this reality has taken a toll on the mental health of undocumented immigrants living with abuse.

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