Vanessa Pineda, Young Center-Phoenix Managing Attorney tells the story of Mayra:
Eight-year-old Mayra* was alone and frightened on her court date. Weeks earlier, she had been forcibly separated from her father at the border. She didn’t know that her father had been immediately deported to their home country. I accompanied Mayra and sat with her outside the courtroom until her name was called. I helped her understand what was going on.
After learning about her story and speaking with her parents, I knew that it was best for Mayra to be safely reunited with her family in her home country. I wrote best interests recommendations and advocated for Mayra with three different government agencies to expedite her reunion. I knew that with every passing day in custody, Mayra would feel more hopeless and alone. Luckily, my advocacy paid off.
Today, Mayra is back with her family and going to school. Meanwhile, the administration continues to separate more families this holiday season. Please consider making a donation to the Young Center to help us advocate for more children like Mayra. Make a donation in honor of someone you love—there are instructions on the Donate page. All donations are doubled by Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’s Waymaker Fund for Immigrant Children.
Thank you,
Vanessa Pineda
Managing Attorney, Phoenix
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