Two young men have been deported to El Salvador after living in the U.S. illegally for nearly 10 years, according to the family's lawyer.

The two brothers had been living in Central Islip when they were detained and deported back to El Salvador. The two came to the United States illegally when they were 10 and 11 years old, according to their lawyer. Their lawyer says they were deported despite having open applications for special immigration protections. Jose and Josue Trejos came to the United States illegally in 2016. Their attorney says their mother was facing harassment and extortion from MS-13 in El Salvador, and that was the catalyst to them fleeing the country for the U.S. However, they were apprehended entering illegally at the border and placed in removal proceedings, but then were released into the United States. Two years later in 2018, their lawyer says an immigration judge denied their asylum case but that they began appealing that decision and attending regular immigration check-ins. The two moved to Central Islip last year to live with their stepdad. They had previously been living in Georgia with their mom and younger brother. In March, the two were at a regular check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Manhattan when they were detained, according to their lawyer. Just last week, they were denied a stay of removal and deported. Their lawyer tells News 12 the brothers have no criminal history and that America is the only home they truly know. Their lawyer, Ala Amoachi, sent this statement in response to their deportation: “Josue and Jose are kind young men who have lived in the United States since they were just 10 and 11 years old. They have no criminal history, and America is the only home they truly know. Despite having pending Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions—and a Family Court judge’s determination that returning them to El Salvador was not in their best interest—our government subjected them to inhumane treatment and abruptly deported them. It was not only unjust, it was heartbreaking. I will continue to fight for them, and for the values of compassion and justice that this country should stand for."

The family has set up a GoFundMe, as well as a change.org petition to help the brothers.