Maria’s Journey was One Worth Taking
Safety and Hope for an Immigrant Mother and Her Children
Client names have been changed.
Maria’s two older children love attending school and are now thriving in their new environment.
As a mother, nothing brings Maria more joy than seeing her children learn, thrive, and simply be kids. In El Salvador, gang violence kept them isolated indoors for their own safety, and her oldest son, Jose, was treated as though he had no value because of his complex needs and disabilities. Today, Jose is receiving medical care, learning new words, and attending school alongside his sister, who loves learning and is thriving in the classroom.
These opportunities became possible through nearly three years of legal advocacy from Pisgah Legal Services. The legal team secured protections that opened doors to healthcare, education, and a more stable future.
Overcoming Fears for a Better Life
The father of Maria’s two older children abandoned the family and left them alone in a gang-controlled area where gunfights erupted in the streets and children were recruited as drug mules. There was no medical care available for Jose’s condition, which he needed to survive, and the schools refused to enroll him year after year.
Maria knew her children would never have the opportunities — or even the childhood — they deserved if they stayed. So, for their future, Maria and her children made the dangerous journey to the U.S. without speaking English.
Along the way, her family faced many hurdles, including being detained by the Mexican authorities and transported to southern Mexico where they were stranded with no food, phone, or belongings. Through the kindness of strangers, they eventually reached Maria’s father in the United States where they then faced a complex immigration system.
Hope Through Legal Help
Maria’s family moved to North Carolina where she then struggled to navigate the system, trying desperately to find a legal pathway for her family to stay. It felt like everyone she came across encouraged her to reach out to Pisgah Legal Services for help with immigration services. She remembers arriving at the office feeling frightened and uncertain but leaving with hope.
“It was the best thing that could have happened to me and my children,” said Maria.
| “It was the best thing that could have happened to me and my children.” |
Immigration Attorneys Leonel Gonzalez, Jr. and Hannah Michalove worked with team members across many departments, including the Medical-Legal Partnership program to secure custody for her two older children. Additionally, because they were neglected and then abandoned by their father, they were able to obtain Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Deferred Action status, which is a path to lawful permanent residence and ultimately citizenship.
SIJ gave the children access to critical benefits, including Medicaid, so Jose can receive the treatments and medical care unavailable in El Salvador. Deferred action provides a temporary work permit (which also doubles as a valid identification card) and temporary protection from deportation while the children await their priority date to apply for lawful permanent residence, which could take 5 to 6 years.
Pisgah Legal Attorneys Leonel Gonzalez, Jr. (left) and Hannah Michalove (far right) helped Maria and her two older children receive deferred action.
Once the children were situated, the focus turned to seeking humanitarian deferred action for Maria. Her attorneys gathered extensive medical documentation showing Jose’s complex needs and presented a petition detailing the hardships the family would face if they were deported to El Salvador.
Humanitarian deferred action is rarely granted, but Maria finally received approval toward the end of last year and she now has employment authorization and protection from deportation for a period of two years.
Like many clients, Maria’s family continues to receive support beyond their immigration case. When new needs arise, Pisgah Legal staff work together to connect them with the right resources like food assistance and Medicaid navigation through the NCMedHelp Program.
“I’m very grateful for everything to everyone,” said Maria.
A Future Thanks to Legal Help
Maria could never have navigated the immigration system or afforded legal representation on her own.
Today, Jose not only receives the medical care and therapies he desperately needed but also attends school and continues learning new words. His sister loves school and looks forward to learning every day.
“To see that as a mother is one of the most wonderful things we can see,” said Maria.
For the first time, her children are growing up in a place where they feel safe, supported, and encouraged to dream. Maria also knows she has trusted advocates she can call for help.
The Journey Continues
Maria’s immigration journey is far from over. There is no simple path to permanent residence or citizenship, and immigration laws are complex and constantly changing.
Due to recent changes to deferred action policy, it’s likely her children will lose their current protections during the many years they must wait to become eligible for permanent residency. Maria’s pathway also remains unclear under current regulations. When her humanitarian deferred action expires, she can apply again. However, there’s no guarantee it will be granted, which may leave her without any protection or the ability to work. Regardless, Pisgah Legal will continue standing beside them.
“It was not easy to leave our country and leave everything,” said Maria. “It was really difficult, but it has been worth it.”
More information about immigration services at Pisgah Legal is available on the Justice for All Program page.