Dear Friend,
At the height of COVID-19, Bernard* and his three siblings came to the U.S. fleeing gang violence in their home country. Bernard had been viciously attacked by a local gang, resulting in severe injuries. When they arrived at the border, Bernard’s three younger siblings were taken into government custody, but because Bernard was 18 and considered an adult, he was expelled to Mexico under Title 42. In Mexico, he was not only separated from his family but also couldn't access medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the Young Center was appointed to Bernard's three siblings. We advocated for their best interests, including for their brother Bernard's entry to the United States through humanitarian parole. Approval for humanitarian parole, a program for those facing emergencies or threats to their lives, is extremely rare. Initially, Customs and Border Protection denied our request, but our Child Advocates didn't give up. We resubmitted our request and escalated it within CBP until it was accepted. A Young Center volunteer Child Advocate met Bernard at the entry port and helped him manage travel arrangements to the city where his siblings were. Finally, he was reunited with his siblings and mother.
While Bernard and his family are together, thousands of children remain separated from their families this holiday season. That's why Young Center staff and volunteers work tirelessly to reunite families and reimagine our system so families are not ripped apart by immigration policies. Click here to donate to our work with immigrant children and our advocacy to build a more humane and welcoming system that prevents family separation and trauma.
Thank you,
Gladis E. Molina Alt
Executive Director
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