SPOTLIGHT ON CLIENTS

Newsletter  |  Summer 2013
Vol. 17, Issue No. 3

Kristina, AI Justice Client for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA):

“I first heard about AI Justice during one of the worst moments in my young life. I had nobody else to turn to and was desperate for help. Through a friend I heard about AI Justice, and in less than 24 hours, they came to my family’s rescue. They helped with my sister’s situation and fought to get her released [from detention], and then they helped my family and me with our sudden deportation order.”

Brought to the U.S. as a child, in 2010 Kristina was enrolled in Miami Dade College with dreams of becoming a nurse. Then she was apprehended and detained by immigration authorities. After hearing about her case, AI Justice stepped in and successfully advocated for her release. Since then, AI Justice has represented her in immigration matters, including submitting a successful DACA application on her behalf. Kristina said: “[AI Justice] not only helped, but also ultimately changed my life and the life of my family. I will forever be thankful.”

Jorge, AI Justice Detention Prevention Client

Jorge, a young man in his early twenties, fled from drug traffickers in Honduras after they had murdered over five members of his immediate family and threatened to kill him as well. Jorge was detained crossing the Texas border and was transferred to the Broward Transitional Center. AI Justice worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) to negotiate and secure his release. Today, he is living with family members in Texas while he pursues his asylum claim.

Javier and Dennis, AI Justice Children’s Legal Project Clients

Javier and Dennis, twin brothers from Honduras, made their way to the border alone. Traveling mostly on foot, the boys ran out of food and water during their journey and were forced to drink water from contaminated streams. The brothers undertook this dangerous trip because it seemed their only chance of survival.

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Abandoned by their parents and raised by violent and abusive relatives, the boys were not allowed to attend school. Instead they were forced to work in the fields. To escape regular and at times life-threatening beatings, the boys decided to escape.

Apprehended by immigration officials in San Antonio, TX, they were detained in a children’s shelter in Miami. While there, AI Justice learned of their circumstances and intervened. Collaborating with FIU’s Immigrant Children’s Justice Clinic, AI Justice succeeded in having the brothers declared dependent by the juvenile court. AI Justice then helped them petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and for a green card. Now Javier and Dennis are both legal permanent residents and on the path to U.S. citizenship.