Visa denied for father of slain North Carolina teen

The father of a North Carolina teen who was kidnapped and killed has been denied a visa to attend his daughter’s funeral.

Noé Aguilar, the father of Hania Aguilar, 13, was denied because he ‘doesn’t have enough ties to the country,’ according to his attorney, Naimeh Salem.

‘To tell you the truth, with past administrations, we never had a problem like this,’  Salem, an immigration lawyer based in Texas, told the New York Times.

‘With [President Donald Trump’s] administration, most everything that is discretionary is getting denied.’ 

An update to a Change.org petition urging approval of a visa for the Guatemalan citizen said the slain teen’s grandfather may attend the services in Noé’s absence.

A mother by the name of Monique Cespedes created the ‘Permission for Hania’s Father to attend her funeral!’ petition, which has gotten more than 50,000 signatures.  

Her funeral will take place on Saturday in Lumberton.

Noé Aguilar, the Guatemalan citizen father of slain North Carolina teen Hania Aguilar (pictured) who was kidnapped and killed in the past month has been denied a visa to attend his daughter’s funeral. Hania, 13, is pictured  the day before she went missing in Lumberton, North Carolina

Cespedes explained in the petition that Noé is currently in Guatemala and needed an expedited visa to make it to the US in time to pay his final respects to his daughter, in person. 

Noé traveled to the US Embassy in Guatemala City to try to make that happen on Monday, but was unsuccessful, the Times reported.

The latest update to the petition, published on Thursday, reiterated what Salem said about his client’s situation, and called it ‘discrimination.’

‘The news is reporting the Humanitarian Visa Noah (sic) Aguilar applied for was denied for lack of supporting documents (basically discrimination ) because he does NOT shave (sic) sufficient ties to his home city, he does not have substantial bank deposits and doesn’t own business – and for that reason the Embassy considers him “at risk” of not returning since he literally has Nothing to return to,’ Cespedes wrote.

‘So since those odds are a far cry since he is indigent he will NOT be able to come here on the Humanitarian Visa to attend his daughter’s funeral. Now, I have heard rumors that her grandpa will attend in his place. But I’m not sure how accurate this information is.’

She ended the update with another call for signatures.  

Noé Aguilar, the father of Hania Aguilar, 13, was denied because he 'doesn't have enough ties to the country,' according to his attorney, Naimeh Salem. A mother by the name of Monique Cespedes created the ' Permission for Hania’s Father to attend her funeral! ' petition, which has gotten more than 50,000 signatures

Noé Aguilar, the father of Hania Aguilar, 13, was denied because he ‘doesn’t have enough ties to the country,’ according to his attorney, Naimeh Salem. A mother by the name of Monique Cespedes created the ‘ Permission for Hania’s Father to attend her funeral! ‘ petition, which has gotten more than 50,000 signatures

Cespedes explained in the petition that Noé is currently in Guatemala and needed an expedited visa to make it to the US in time to pay his final respects to his daughter, in person

Cespedes explained in the petition that Noé is currently in Guatemala and needed an expedited visa to make it to the US in time to pay his final respects to his daughter, in person

‘No parent should be denied the right to attend their child’s funeral- especially when Hania was a Citizen-born in Tennessee. This petition is to show support for the father coming to attend the arrangements,’ Cespedes wrote when first creating the petition.

‘Somehow someway the involved agencies should be able to make this work given his family and daughter are victims of a brutal crime that took the life of his daughter!’ 

Police say a man forced the teenager into an SUV and drove off on November 5. Her body was found last week.

A $30,000 reward remains in place for information related to the kidnapping.

Her family has received a new mobile home about a mile away to help them make a new start.

Police say a man forced Hania (pictured) into an SUV and drove off on November 5. Her body was found last week. A $30,000 reward remains in place for information related to the kidnapping of Hania Aguilar

Police say a man forced Hania (pictured) into an SUV and drove off on November 5. Her body was found last week. A $30,000 reward remains in place for information related to the kidnapping of Hania Aguilar

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