Yader Salgado, the sexton of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Northport, is a beloved figure in his community, entrusted with many responsibilities and an oversized key ring to manage them.
As he strolls through the historic building on Main Street early on a rainy Monday morning, he effortlessly unlocks each door, a testament to his familiarity with the church despite being in the job for less than a year.
Since returning to Northport from Nicaragua in June 2024, Salgado has quickly integrated into the church community and has become an integral part of the local fabric.
However, this seemingly smooth transition took a dramatic turn in late March when Salgado received a letter from the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The letter informed him that his enrollment in the United States humanitarian parole program had been revoked, and he, along with his wife and two children, would have to leave the country by April 24.
This program, which allowed half a million people from countries like Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua to live temporarily but legally in the U.S., has seen many participants receiving similar revocation letters.
Salgado, who hails from Chacaraseca, a town situated about 50 miles northeast of Managua, was stunned upon receiving the news.
“We were not expecting this letter,” Yader (pronounced YAH-ther) shared. “We’ve been trying so hard to do things right, writing letters to our sponsors and ensuring everything was fine with the immigration department. Then suddenly I just get this letter asking us to depart. We didn’t know what to do and we were very scared and afraid.”
Salgado initially came to the United States in the 1990s on a student visa sponsored by missionaries, including Peter White, a retired Northport High School teacher.
After graduating from Northport High School in 1998, he went on to attend Belmont Abbey College on a full scholarship.
After completing his studies, Salgado returned to Nicaragua, where he met his wife, Sayda.
The couple, along with their son Jesse, 20, and daughter also named Sayda, who is currently a freshman at Northport High School, returned to the U.S. last summer under the two-year humanitarian parole status.
However, the letter from Homeland Security abruptly nullified their parole status after just 10 months.
Father Andrew Garnett, rector of Trinity Church, took immediate action upon hearing about the letter.
He turned to social media, posting, “Yader is the American Dream.
He and his family waited, worked, and prayed for the chance to legally come to this country.
From day one, he has been nothing but the best.
His family is a shining example of what it means to be an American.
He embodies the values of faith, family, and hard work.
To send him and his family away is not justice.
It is a betrayal of the very principles upon which this nation was built.” The post concluded with the hashtag #saveyader.
This sentiment resonated within the church community and then expanded throughout the Village of Northport.
With the assistance of local news outlets like News12 reporting on the Salgados’ plight, the story began to gain traction beyond the immediate community.
Soon, Yader and Father Andrew found themselves in the media spotlight, transforming the unassuming sexton, who also works behind the deli counter at a local supermarket, into a household name.
Thanks to the publicity, a connection to gain legal support through the church, and help from the Northport Mayor’s office, Salgado was able to secure temporary asylum until his case is reviewed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, a process that could extend up to three years.
While the Salgados’ immigration journey is far from over, they have avoided immediate danger.
“These are the kind of people who we should be rallying behind,” Father Andrew stated.
“It’s not a left or right or center thing.
It’s the correct thing.”
The Salgados have expressed their gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received from the community.
“Everybody has been so warm and welcoming to my family and me, and I like Northport a lot,” Salgado said.
“Many people have supported me, and a lot of people genuinely seem to like me even if they don’t know me; they want to find out who I am.
I’m happy to be a part of this congregation and this church family, and I’m happy to be part of Northport.”
Yader Salgado looks forward to adding one more key to his ring—the one that opens the door to permanent residency in Northport and the United States.
image source from：https://tbrnewsmedia.com/tag/united-states-department-of-homeland-security/
