Facts:  V is a 17 year old young man from Mexico who grew up with this mother and older brother. His biological father never played a role in his life. V had problems with others early in school and suffered from immense persecution and discrimination. He was constantly bullied for being indigenous, speaking Nahuatl, and he was segregated from others when traveling to school. He struggled to connect with his classmates because of he did not feel comfortable speaking Spanish at the time. Last year, V was detained by ICE after the police pulled over the minivan he was riding in with eight strangers.

Legal Assessment:  As an unaccompanied minor, V is eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), a protection that can eventually grant him a pathway to citizenship. V needs a committed pro bono volunteer advocate to help him fight his case in family and immigration court so that he can remain lawfully in the U.S.

* V was detained by ICE for one and a half months until his brother arrived to sponsor his release and take care of him in New York. The Notice to Appear (“NTA”) was issued on April 20, 2018. V has yet to receive a court date.

V speaks Spanish & Nahuatl.