When paramilitaries invaded Paola's hometown in Columbia*, she fled with her two young grandchildren to Panama. In order to support herself and her grandchildren, she sells tamales made from corn she grows herself. Now her business is expanding, with a little help from HIAS.
When paramilitaries invaded Paola's hometown in Columbia*, she fled with her two young grandchildren to Panama. In order to support herself and her grandchildren, she sells tamales made from corn she grows herself. Now her business is expanding, with a little help from HIAS.
“Despite how difficult it was in Kyrgyzstan, I never considered applying for asylum before I came to America,” Julia Vinsky said. She calmly described a childhood that involved beatings, broken ribs, concussions and even a kidnapping. She sums up her parent’s attitude succinctly: “you are Jewish, so this is how it is.”
“Despite how difficult it was in Kyrgyzstan, I never considered applying for asylum before I came to America,” Julia Vinsky said. She calmly described a childhood that involved beatings, broken ribs, concussions and even a kidnapping. She sums up her parent’s attitude succinctly: “you are Jewish, so this is how it is.”
Our clients have one benefit that many unaccompanied children do not: an immigration attorney to help them navigate the system. Ana* is one such child. Ten years old, with pig tails, a quick smile and a sweet demeanor, it was hard to reconcile Ana’s fifth grade exuberance and spirit with the gang violence she witnessed in El Salvador.
Our clients have one benefit that many unaccompanied children do not: an immigration attorney to help them navigate the system. Ana* is one such child. Ten years old, with pig tails, a quick smile and a sweet demeanor, it was hard to reconcile Ana’s fifth grade exuberance and spirit with the gang violence she witnessed in El Salvador.
Although there have been many struggles, Jainaba insists that leaving Gambia was the only way for her to feel safe. Her son says that finally seeing his mother again after three years was the happiest moment of his life.
In a recent letter, Lev shared his mother’s reasons for leaving Ukraine. “I didn’t want to be afraid of the government anymore, to live in fear of them going to my home,” she told him. “I didn’t want to stand on the schoolhouse steps and worry to death about explaining to my 9-year-old son why being a Jew was bad.”
More than 2 million Ukrainians have been displaced since March 2014. The actual number remains unknown and is likely to be higher, however, as people are in no rush to register as IDPs. New policies are not helping matters, either.
Give Now
Help HIAS provide vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world
