|
Dear Friend,
Sofia was 16 years old when our Young Center volunteer was appointed to her as a Child Advocate. A transgender girl from Honduras, Sofia was assaulted in her home country as well as on her journey to the United States. When she arrived at the border, she was taken into custody and bounced around six different facilities in two years.
The Young Center successfully advocated for Sofia to be transferred to a residential treatment center where she could access the mental health support she needed to begin to heal. Because she was about to turn 18, Sofia was at risk of being transferred to an ICE adult detention center, which was especially frightening for a transgender teen. Her Child Advocate team immediately jumped into action and advocated for her release to a youth transitional housing program.
Today, Sofia is living in the community and attending school. She continues to keep in touch with her Child Advocate while awaiting her asylum interview. Her story is one example of the dangerous conditions children face when soliciting asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border and within the U.S. immigration system. You can learn more about the current state of affairs at our border by joining our upcoming webinar.
Sofia is one of many LGTBQIA2S+ youth with whom the Young Center works with. This Immigrant Heritage and Pride Month is a time to celebrate their lives and honor their intersecting identities. With your support, we are able to advocate for them to assert who they are and tell their story, with pride and free from harm. Consider making a donation here to sustain our advocacy.
|
