She was just a teenager, fleeing from another country, and worried about what would happen next in her life. Her Aunt sent her to America to escape sex traffickers in her neighborhood and to be with her father, who lives here. She had never met him, but after moving in…something horrific happened. He sexually abused her.
She had no other family to depend on. And she had no one to whom she could turn for help. However, after confiding in someone about the abuse, she was removed from her father’s home and placed in the foster care system.
And then, our attorneys from Immigrant Services stepped in to help this young girl build a better life and a brighter future.
Her father was prosecuted and signed consent for her adoption. And our attorneys filed for and received Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for her. That puts her on a path to get legal status in the U.S. They also helped her get a work permit.
Today, she is a high school graduate, completing educational certifications that could help her solidify a job, and she is now eligible to apply for a green card.
There are still obstacles for her to overcome but she is no longer abused. No longer afraid. And no longer lost and alone in a new land.
As child advocates, we believe in the potential of every child. Every child deserves hope. Every child deserves love.