Elena was 15 years old when she married her husband who was physically, sexually and emotionally abusive to her. After over a year of extreme suffering, she was finally able to escape his control. Elena reported her husband to the police in Guatemala and was granted several orders of protection, however her husband violated the orders and continued to abuse her. When she became pregnant with her son, she knew her only option to stay safe was to make the dangerous journey to the United States to seek protection. She entered the United States in June 2014 at the age of 17.
Elena’s AI Justice attorney prepared her asylum application and accompanied her to the asylum interview. Elena was granted asylum. She is now working to build a stable life for her young son, free from the fear of further violence.