Elia is a woman from Guatemala who suffered 27 years of abuse at the hands of her husband. After he tried to kill her, she realized he would never change and she was not safe, so she fled to the United States.
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Elia, Survivor |
Catherine Ward-Seitz, one of the immigration attorneys
on staff at Canal Alliance, took her case and helped her apply for asylum.
In recent years, laws have been evolving to recognize asylum for women who
have been victims of domestic violence.
The key is to establish evidence
that the police fail to protect them from their abusers in the home country.
Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by Immigration Judges and Asylum
Officers.
With the help of Canal Alliance, Elia was able to make her case.
Catherine documented the fact that police in Guatemala failed to protect
victims of domestic violence like Elia.
In October 2002, the judge granted
Elia and her two children asylum. Now she is working and studying English.
Her husband didn't allow her to study in Guatemala, so now she is enjoying
the freedom to enrich herself through education and to live in safety.
“Now
I am an independent woman. I am struggling, but I appreciate that there
are many opportunities for women to succeed in the United States. There
is a lot of support here for me. I am very happy and live in tranquility
and peace now. I thank God and this country for helping people like me.”
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