Alfredo

After years of physical abuse by his father, Alfredo fled Guatemala to save his life at age 14. He was detained by Immigration agents on arrival in 2001 and diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among other special needs. He only spoke a rare Mayan dialect, limiting his ability to communicate.

Alfredo was transferred among detention facilities 10 times, at times handcuffed and shackled. His request for asylum was denied, though the Immigration Judge believed he was terribly abused and would not be protected. AI Justice finally got permission from Immigration officials to take Alfredo’s case to state juvenile court, the first such consent in the Miami District. That led to his release after 18 months in detention. He went to live with the pro bono interpreter that AI Justice had found for him.

“Whenever I was taken somewhere,’’ Alfredo said, “AI Justice was always there to help me out and to visit me.” Ultimately, he got his green card and went to live and work in Ohio.