R was abandoned by her father when she was six and has reunited with her mother and sisters. ...

  • Client Location: Brooklyn
  • Type of Relief: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)

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Facts: R is 16-year-old young woman from Honduras who came to the U.S. with her sisters to reunite with their mother. When R was six, her father abandoned the family to be with another woman. Before his departure, R witnessed domestic violence perpetuated by her father towards her mother. She states the abuse was severe and frequent, and resulted in injuries for her mother, but that her mother did not go to the hospital out of shame. R also reports that her father drank a lot and was an alcoholic. He would come home drunk and beat her mom every day. R last saw her father at age 10. She believes that he stopped seeing her because he had a new family. R’s father has never provided any financial support. Today, R lives in Brooklyn with her mother and sisters. She is very close to her sister, M, who practically raised her from birth. Although R does not wish to pursue any finding in Family Court against her mother, she prefers that M be her guardian. R is happy and safe in the U.S. with her sisters and mother and is thriving in her new school.

Legal Assessment: R is in removal proceedings and is eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), a visa for children who have been abused, abandoned or neglected by a parent. This status will allow R to remain in the U.S. with her sisters and mother. R needs a volunteer attorney to fight their case before the Kings County Family Court and the Immigration Court.

R is a Spanish speaking client.

 

 

 

Topics:
  • Family
  • Immigrant Children
  • Estimated Time Commitment (Hours)
    • < 5
    • 5-10
    • 10-20
    • > 20
    • unknown
  • Mentor Available
  • Free Volunteer Training
  • Organization Provides Malpractice Insurance
  • Case Level / Appropriate For
    Beginner, Intermediate
  • Skills Developed
    Administrative hearing, Case Management, Client advice and counseling, Client/witness interviewing, Legal research & writing
  • Venue where case will be heard
    USCIS, Kings County Family Court, Immigration Court
  • Additional Volunteers Needed
    Mentor, Other: Interpreter