OUR CLIENTS
The SFILDC serves a diverse immigrant population. Many of our clients are fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries and have recently arrived to the United States. Others have lived many years in the United States and have family members who have different immigration status. Here are some of their stories. Their stories reveal the violence and abuse they are fleeing, the challenges they have faced in finding safety in the United States, their struggle navigating the US legal system, their courage and resilience, and the positive impact of legal representation on their lives. All names have been changed.
Jane grew up in Sierra Leone. After Jane’s parents died, she was sent to live with extended family members who subjected her to female genital mutilation (FGM). She was forced to live at her aunt and uncle’s house, where she suffered additional sexual abuse at the hands of a cousin. Soon her aunt introduced her to her soon-to-be husband: a man twice her age with multiple wives. Rather than be forced into marriage and subject to additional abuse, Jane embarked on a treacherous journey to the U.S. to seek asylum. The African Advocacy Network agreed to represent Jane and helped her to obtain asylum. Jane now lives safely with her family in the U.S. and will soon be undergoing FGM reconstructive surgery.
Raymond immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines when he was a teenager. Starting as a young man, Raymond struggled with substance abuse. He cycled through periods of sobriety and relapse. As a result, Raymond was arrested and convicted of drug possession several times. For 30 years, Raymond lived in San Francisco where he worked and raised his three children with his wife. In 2017, ICE arrested Raymond and detained him. Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus won a second chance for Raymond, obtaining his release and the opportunity to stay with his family.
Mario is a young boy from Mexico. His father was an abusive alcoholic who brutally beat Mario and the rest of his family. When Mario was 7, his family escaped his father’s abuse. A year later, Mario’s mother abandoned him, leaving Mario with a sister who also abused him. Mario fled to the U.S. in February 2015. With Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach's help, Mario obtained guardianship and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status findings in San Francisco Probate Court and he was eventually granted lawful permanent residency.
Two young brothers, Walter and William, lived in Guatemala before coming to the U.S. They fled in fear for their lives when gangs began targeting them for recruitment. Upon their arrival in the U.S., they were placed in removal proceedings. Ten days before their first hearing, they contacted Dolores Street Community Services seeking representation. DSCS attorneys worked diligently with them and their family here and in Guatemala to help them to apply for asylum and gather proof for the claim. Both Walter and William were granted asylum. Walter has shared his story before City Hall, moving many Supervisors and the public to support the SFILDC.
In Guatemala, Ella suffered because her father physically, verbally, and emotionally abused her throughout her life. Ella fled her father’s abuse at the age of 17. On her journey to the U.S., Ella had the misfortune of experiencing further violence. When she arrived to the U.S. she was detained for a month and a half before being released to her uncle. Ella sought help at Central American Resource Center which was able to represent her in her immigration proceedings. Thanks to her attorney’s advocacy, Ella’s was granted Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and became a permanent resident.
Mateo is a young Salvadoran boy who suffered extreme abuse and trauma in his home country. Mateo was conceived as a result of a violent rape, so he never had a relationship with his biological father. When Mateo was young, his mother came to the U.S. to earn money to support him, leaving Mateo to live with his extended family. Unfortunately, he was physically and mentally abused by his family and sexually abused by one of his neighbors. Mateo fled El Salvador and reunited with his mother in the U.S. Upon Mateo’s arrival, he began feeling the effects of his childhood trauma and was hospitalized to receive psychiatric and emergency medical care. The Immigration Center for Children and Women represented Mateo in his immigration proceedings and helped him to obtain permanent residency through his petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
Josselyn is a tenacious young Guatemalan girl whose parents abandoned her when she was two. Josselyn then lived with her elderly grandparent who abused her and forced her to serve as caregiver. As her grandparent grew more infirm, Josselyn became afraid for her own survival, so she started her journey to find her mother after 14 years without contact. Unfortunately, her mother rejected her. With nowhere else to go, Josselyn fled to the U.S. When she arrived, she was taken into immigration custody and placed in a detention facility for children. She was eventually released to a relative in San Francisco after four months.. Kids In Need of Defense took over her case and Josselyn is now on her way to securing permanent resident status in the U.S.
Jon and Rosa are from El Salvador. When their mother moved to the U.S. to earn money to support them, she left them in the care of their older siblings. Gangs targeted their family, and due to these threats, Jon embarked on his journey to the U.S. completely alone. Jon was able to reunify with his mother in the U.S> but within month’s of Jon’s arrival, their mother received an horrific call that Jon’s older brother had been murdered in El Salvador. Jon’s older brother was murdered because he tried to protect their sister Rosa from being sexually harrassed and assaulted by gang members. Rosa fled El Salvador with their remaining siblings. With the help of La Raza Centro Legal, Jon and Rosa have been granted asylum. La Raza Centro Legal is also representing all of the remaining family members in their pending cases before the San Francisco Immigration Court.
Maria came to the U.S. seeking asylum. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), forced Maria to wear an ankle shackle for nearly eight months as part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). During this time Maria complied with every requirement imposed by ICE and the ISAP program. Maria sought help from La Raza Community Resource Center for the removal of the shackle. Maria’s attorney made repeated requests and inquiries to ISAP and ICE officers, but they refused to remove the shackle. ICE claimed that Maria had missed a check-in appointment and a home visit. LRCRC attorney provided proof that Maria had complied with every single requirement imposed to her, and through intense advocacy convinced ICE to finally agreed to remove Maria’s ankle shackle.
In Guatemala, Juana’s father abused her, forced her to work, and forbid her from attending school. Juana fled this abuse and traveled to the U.S. at the age of 16. Legal Services for Children agreed to represent Juana and helped her obtain Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and Permanent Residency. LSC also helped Juana advocate to continue her education in face of family pressure to leave school and work. Juana is now living with an older sibling in San Francisco and attends high school. She is doing extremely well in her classes and is looking forward to receiving her High School Diploma.
Alma is a 16-year-old girl from El Salvador whose father physically abused her. Alma escaped the abuse and came to the U.S. to seek safety, but she was placed in deportation proceedings upon her arrival. Pangea Legal Services helped Alma apply for asylum and win her case. Since she received legal status, Alma has begun to participate in school and has joined the soccer team.
The University of San Francisco's Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic represents Elio, 16-year old from Guatemala who lives with his older brother in San Francisco. Elio's father was murdered in Guatemala and his step-father abused him. Elio’s mother would not leave his stepfather, and he had no other family in Guatemala, so he left and came to the U.S. With the help of USF, Elio received a state court order and is in the process of applying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and permanent residency.