“Children should not have to grow up with fear as a constant companion. Families should not live with the uncertainty of separation.”
On June 9th, the Congressional Dads Caucus honored Young Center Board Member Darlin Adonay Peña with a Dad Ambassador Award. The awards recognize leaders who advance policies and initiatives that support fathers, caregivers, children, and working families.
“Thank you to the Congressional Dads Caucus, Equimundo, and the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. It means a lot to be in a room with leaders who believe that families, especially fathers, matter. I accept this award as a Dad, as a husband, and as someone who was once an immigrant child from Honduras in need of protection,” said Darlin.
Organized by Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, the Congressional Dads Caucus advances family-friendly policies year-round. The Week of Action was an opportunity not only to celebrate fathers across America, but to build a country where every family has the support they need to thrive.
“Becoming a father changed everything for me. When my son Caleb was born, my priorities shifted. I started thinking about the kind of parent I wanted to be—the kind of presence I want to have in his life. I want him to feel loved, supported, and safe in ways many of us didn’t always experience growing up. I want to be someone he can talk to, someone who encourages him to grow into who he is meant to be,” said Darlin.
Born in La Sidra, Honduras, Darlin is a living example of both the hardships that drive children to flee Central America and the resilience of unaccompanied immigrant youth in the United States. Upon crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Darlin was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol with little more than a backpack and worn shoes. He was placed in a shelter for unaccompanied children where he initially struggled with loneliness and worry for the family he left behind.
Despite these obstacles, Darlin remained determined. With the support of volunteer attorneys, Darlin was able to tell his story before Immigration Court. Shortly before turning age 18, he was granted lawful permanent residence. He pursued an education, dreamt of the future, and even found ways to give back — donating part of his first earnings to help children with medical needs in Honduras. He also collected donated toys, clothing, and other items and drove them to a migrant shelter in Mexico, similar to the one he stayed at when he was a child.
“As someone who received protection as a child, I feel a responsibility to give back. I see what is happening now, and I know we cannot stay silent. Children should not have to grow up with fear as a constant companion. Families should not live with the uncertainty of separation,” said Darlin.
Darlin has also served as a Volunteer Child Advocate for the Young Center’s Phoenix Office. His advocacy underscored the critical importance of legal protection, stability, and dignity for children seeking safety.
“In my community, I see how fragile that sense of safety can be. I’ve seen families preparing to celebrate a new life—only to have that moment shattered because a father is detained by ICE and doesn’t come home. I’ve seen the fear, the confusion, the stress it puts on children who don’t understand why their parents are suddenly gone,” said Darlin, “This reality is not distant, it is in our neighborhoods. It is present. It is something too many immigrant families carry every single day.”
At the end of his award ceremony, Darlin announced the launch of the All Children Belong Campaign, a state policy and narrative change initiative led by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. The All Children Belong Campaign brings together advocates, educators, providers, researchers, community leaders, and young people to advance laws and policies that protect children, regardless of their or their parents’ immigration status, and defend against those that cause harm. By protecting children and keeping families together, we uphold our country’s values and strengthen our communities for everyone. All children belong in our communities—no matter where they or their parents were born—and should have what they need to thrive.
“Fatherhood is about presence. It’s about care. It’s about showing up—not just for our own children, but for all children,” he said.
