Across the country, arrests, detentions, deportations, and growing barriers to legal entry continue to create deep uncertainty for immigrant families. Many people live with the daily fear of being separated from loved ones, losing their ability to work, or never being reunited with family members. Children are separated from parents, young people and adults are detained under inhumane conditions, and families must navigate increasingly hostile and racist policies that shape everyday life.
In the midst of this reality, Canal Alliance remains committed to standing with immigrant families in Marin County — providing trusted information, essential services, and long‑term support that helps people build stability, safety, and opportunity.
One powerful example of this work comes from our Immigration Legal Services (ILS) team and their efforts to reunite a mother and son after more than a decade apart.
In 2016, Marisol came to Canal Alliance seeking help applying for a U visa, a form of humanitarian relief available to immigrants who have been victims of crime in the United States. As part of her application, Marisol petitioned for her son, Oscar, to join her in the U.S.
At the time, Oscar was a teenager living in Guatemala. Marisol had migrated to the U.S. when he was very young, driven by the hope of creating a better future for her family. For years, she held onto the dream that one day they would be reunited.
From the outset, it was clear that Marisol and Oscar’s case would require extraordinary patience and persistence. The U visa process is notoriously complex and slow, and the COVID‑19 pandemic introduced additional delays that stretched timelines even further. Progress was often frustratingly incremental, and long periods of uncertainty tested everyone involved.
Throughout it all, Canal Alliance’s Immigration Legal Services team remained a steady presence. Over the course of more than five years, our ILS team became a lifeline for Marisol and Oscar — answering questions, offering guidance, and helping them navigate an intimidating legal system with care and expertise.
Senior Paralegal Melanie Santos played a pivotal role in Oscar’s case, working closely with him to gather documents, prepare evidence, and complete his visa application. The work was detailed and time‑consuming, complicated by international coordination and pandemic‑related disruptions. Beyond the legal tasks, Melanie and the ILS team provided consistent reassurance and emotional support during long stretches of waiting.
In September 2023, Oscar was instructed to visit the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala to complete fingerprinting, a hopeful sign that his case was moving forward. But once again, the process stalled. Repeated follow‑ups yielded little progress, and time became a critical concern — Oscar was nearing the age limit that would make him ineligible to remain on his mother’s application.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Melanie reached out to Congressman Jared Huffman’s office for assistance. With their support, communication between the U.S. Embassy and Guatemalan authorities was reestablished, and after more than a year of additional waiting, Oscar’s interview was finally scheduled.
In August 2025 — nearly nine years after Marisol first submitted her application — the long‑awaited news arrived: Oscar’s visa had been approved.
“We were relieved,” Melanie shared. “With changes in administration, we knew that very few of these visas were being issued. Our team was overjoyed that we were able to help Oscar receive his visa just in time.”
One month later, in September 2025, Oscar arrived in the United States. After 18 years apart, mother and son were finally able to embrace in person.
“Our entire team was smiling and celebrating when we heard he had arrived,” Melanie said. “Oscar told us that both he and his mom cried many happy tears that day.”
Marisol and Oscar’s reunion reflects what is possible when persistence, expertise, and compassion come together. It is a testament to the dedication of Canal Alliance staff — and to the strength and perseverance of families who refuse to give up hope, even in the face of overwhelming barriers.
Every day, immigrant families turn to Canal Alliance seeking safety, justice, and the possibility of reunion. While today’s political climate presents even greater challenges, stories like Marisol and Oscar’s remind us why this work matters — and why we continue, steadfastly, alongside the communities we serve.
*Names have been changed to protect client anonymity.