''I was afraid I would be deported immediately if I revealed I was gay,'' he said, explaining his decision to flee.

Had he disclosed his sexual orientation then, the immigration judge might have given him the option of applying for asylum, said Ira Kurzban, a Miami attorney widely recognized as a national authority on immigration law.

''Homosexuality has been recognized as a possible basis for asylum under one of the designated categories, membership in a particular social group,'' he said.

Because Castro did not appeal the judge's deportation order, it became final -- meaning he could be put on a plane home without further proceedings when found.

And that's what happened.

Like most of his fellow passengers, Castro was largely quiet during the flight home.

FLIGHT DIVERTED

Over Honduras, the flight began to get bumpy as the plane encountered bad weather. Plans to land in the capital of Tegucigalpa were suddenly scrapped. The plane would divert to San Pedro Sula, Honduras' second-largest city.

As the plane descended through a thick layer of clouds, few passengers appeared nervous.

They would later learn that the country was in the throes of the worst storm since Hurricane Mitch killed thousands in 1998.

The flight landed smoothly just before 9 a.m.

Women were allowed off first, some running and screaming or pumping their closed fists in the air. The men were more subdued. All were ordered by airport police to form a line to have their papers checked.

Then police told the deportees they were free to go.

Many huddled in groups beneath the terminal awning, looking for a way to get home.

Castro caught a cab to La Misión, the village where he was born, 55 miles south of San Pedro Sula.

His mother, Adelina, waited at the door of her small cinder-block home surrounded by tropical fruit trees and flowers.

''My son, my son, I'm so happy you are all right,'' Adelina told Castro as she held him in a tight embrace and tearfully kissed his face multiple times.

A 6-month-old dog, Ranger, barked as he entered the house.

Then Castro sat on a chair and sighed deeply as the small TV in the living room blared storm bulletins.

''I'm happy, but not happy,'' he said about being back home. ``I'm happy to see my family again, but not happy about being back in a place where I can't have a life.''

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