CONTENT WARNING: potential client is a survivor of childhood sexual violence

Johnny* is a young man from Guatemala. As a child, Johnny was subject to repeated sexual violence from two neighbors who lived together, starting when he was around 13 years old. His neighbors forced him to have sex with them and took pictures of him performing various sexual acts, which they used to threaten him. Johnny tried to escape by fleeing to another city in Guatemala, but his neighbors looked for him there as well. Johnny explains that he did not report what happened to the police because there is no support from the police or government in Guatemala, and additionally, his neighbors threatened to kill him or post compromising sexual pictures of him if he told anyone, including the government or his parents.

Johnny has experienced mental health challenges in the past but says that his time in the U.S. has been very healing, and he has a supportive male partner. Johnny fears that if he returns to Guatemala, he will be tortured due to his LGBTQ identity.  He shared that he suffered bullying in the past because of his sexual orientation and that members of the LGBTQ community are not accepted in Guatemala. Johnny has not told anyone in his family or his current partner about the childhood sexual violence he suffered, and he has not disclosed his sexual orientation to his family.

Following a DUI-related incident that resulted in two convictions, Johnny is ineligible for asylum. However, he is eligible for protection from deportation under the Convention Against Torture, in which criminal history is not legally relevant, and needs a pro bono team to represent him in his deportation hearing.

All Amica Center matters placed with a pro bono team are robustly mentored by an Amica Center attorney and/or fully Accredited Representative with expertise in representing clients in immigration proceedings. Our mentoring program includes an opening meeting to discuss the scope and process of the matter, provision of samples, guidance on the law, review of draft filings, assistance with client contact, and guidance on preparation for interviews and hearings.

• Location: Caroline County, VA (detained) – facility allows in person visits and uses Virtual Attorney Visitation system.
• Timeline: first calendar (scheduling) hearing was scheduled for January 7, 2025, in Annandale, VA. Will be rescheduled due to weather-related court closure.
• Language: Spanish

Please contact our Managing Attorney for Pro Bono Coordination, Jennifer Grishkin, at jennifer@amicacenter.org if you are interested in taking this case.

*Pseudonyms are used to protect privacy.