Friend,
After a long journey, nine-year-old Gigi arrived in 2018 with her father at the U.S.- Mexico border where she was separated and placed in government custody away from family.
While Gigi’s father was eventually released from federal detention, there were concerns around abuse which made reunification a challenge. With full respect to Gigi’s wishes, the Young Center recommended she be placed in a long-term foster care program. However, this option didn't work out.
A resilient and determined child, Gigi shared her wishes with Young Center staff during weekly visits. We helped her understand her options. Through conversations, we learned her grandfather who lived in the U.S, could be a potential option for her release. While she hadn’t had contact with him in many years, Gigi was willing to try. So the Young Center team worked to establish a connection and build a relationship between the two of them so that she could go live with her grandfather.
It took four years, but in 2022 Gigi was finally released from government custody. Now thirteen years old, she lives happily with her grandfather in her new community. Gigi has gone back to school and walks her dogs every day after class. Most recently, her claim for a special immigrant juvenile visa was approved, making the possibility of a permanent stay even more likely.
Reunification with family shouldn’t take years. But unfortunately, for many kids, it does. Gigi’s story is an example of why ongoing support and access to service providers in the community that listen to a child’s needs are so important. Give today so we can continue to ensure other children like Gigi can be reunited with their families and loved ones.
