Pro Bono Opportunities
SIJS (VA): YOUNG BOY WHO WAS ABANDONED BY FATHER AND SEPARATED FROM MOTHER AT THE BORDER WANTS TO STAY IN U.S. WITH HIS UNCLE AND UNCLE'S PARTNER (David)
David* is a 13-year-old boy from El Salvador. David and his family were abandoned by his father when David was only 5 years old. Without the financial support of David’s father, his mother was left with the burden of supporting the family. David’s family was threatened by gang members multiple times while he was living in El Salvador.
SIJS (VA): GIRL WHO WAS ABANDONED BY FATHER WHO HORRIFICALLY ABUSED HER MOTHER NEEDS ATTORNEY TO HELP HER STAY WITH HER MOTHER IN THE U.S. (Melia)
Melia is a 12-year-old girl from El Salvador. Melia came to the United States in order to reunite with her mother, who had fled El Salvador and her violently abusive husband, Melia’s father, a few years earlier. Melia’s mother believed that Melia and her sister were in danger from the gangs because they had started pursuing Melia’s older sister.
SIJS (MD): SALVADORAN BOY AND HIS MOM ARE FINALLY SAFE TOGETHER IN MARYLAND (Derick)
Derick* is a 9-year-old boy from El Salvador. Derick was abandoned by his father when he was just 3 years old.
YOUNG SIBLINGS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FAMILY-BASED ASYLUM FOLLOWING GANG'S THREATS (Lucas and Daisy)
Lucas and Daisy are 9- and 5-year-old siblings from El Salvador. With the help of their mother, Lucas and Daisy recently entered the U.S. alone to flee from a gang that had been threatening them in El Salvador.
SIJS (VA): HELP A GIRL WHO WAS ABANDONED BY HER FATHER AND THREATENED BY HER UNCLE STAY WITH HER MOTHER IN THE U.S. (Franni)
[content warning: discusses sexual abuse of a minor]
SIJS (MD): 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL NEGLECTED BY BOTH HER PARENTS AND FORCED TO WORK FROM A YOUNG AGE NEEDS ATTORNEY (Valeria)
Valeria* is a 17-year-old girl from Guatemala. Valeria came to the U.S. because her parents were unable to provide for her in Guatemala.
SIJS (MD): SIBLINGS NEGLECTED BY MOTHER AND SUBJECTED TO ABUSE NEED ATTORNEY TO HELP THEM STAY WITH LOVING FATHER IN MARYLAND (Ava and Henry)
[content warning: discusses sexual assault upon a child]
SIJS (MD): BOY ABANDONED BY HIS FATHER AND THREATENED BY GANGS NOW HAS OPPORTUNITY TO STAY WITH MOTHER IN MARYLAND (Javi)
Javi* is a 13-year-old boy from Honduras. He endured a childhood plagued by gang violence and threats.
CHILDREN'S ASYLUM: DEATH THREATS TO SALVADORAN CHILD'S FAMILY FORCED HIM TO FLEE (Ervin)
Ervin* is an 11-year-old boy from El Salvador. Gang members in one city threatened and extorted Ervin's family because his mother had a successful small business. They said they would kill her children if she did not pay them "rent," so his mother abandoned the business and fled to another city with her children.
SIJS (MD): HONDURAN TEEN WHO SUPPORTS HIS ELDERLY FATHER WANTS TO REMAIN IN MARYLAND (Alfonso)
Alfonso* is a 17-year-old boy from Honduras. Alfonso's mother died when he was an infant, and his father is elderly and ill and can no longer provide care for him. In fact, for several years, Alfonso has taken on the caregiving role to help his father.
SIJS (MD): HONDURAN TEEN WORKED DANGEROUS JOBS FOR YEARS TO SUPPORT A FAMILY OF TEN (Jandro)
Jandro* is a 17-year-old boy from Honduras. He grew up in a household of ten people: two parents, a grandparent, and Jandro and his six younger siblings. Jandro's father worked various jobs, typically a few days per week; Jandro's mother raised the children and did not earn money.
TRIAL OPPORTUNITY: SALVADORAN MAN IS ELIGIBLE FOR PROTECTION UNDER THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE (Chano)
Chano* is a 27-year-old man from El Salvador. When Chano was a young teenager, his mother died and he joined a gang. During his time in the gang, he accrued two serious criminal charges and was imprisoned in El Salvador.
SIJS (MD): GUATEMALAN TEEN WORKED SIX DAYS A WEEK TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY WHILE HIS FATHER SPENT HIS OWN EARNINGS ON ALCOHOL (Fredy)
Fredy* is a 17-year-old boy from Guatemala.
CHILDREN'S ASYLUM: SALVADORAN GIRL WHO REFUSED TO BECOME A “GANG GIRLFRIEND” IS ELIGIBLE FOR ASYLUM (Keren)
Keren* is an 18-year-old girl from El Salvador.
TRIAL OPPORTUNITY: SALVADORAN MAN WHOM GANG SHOT IN THE HEAD IS FIGHTING DEPORTATION (Naldo)
Naldo* is a 27-year-old man from El Salvador. Gang members began extorting his mother, who owned a store, and then began persecuting the