Bela* is 8 years old and from El Salvador. Bela’s father, Emilio, moved out of their house when Bela was 5 months old. After he moved out, he stopped sending money and his financial contributions were sporadic.

Emilio, while no longer living in the same house as Bela, lived across the street. He would attempt to visit Bela but was often drunk and had abusive behavior.

After an incident where Emilio choked Bela’s mother, Maria, she called the police, and Emilio was taken to jail. This event happened when Bela was about 4 or 5 years old. The judge who tried him ordered him to pay monthly to help support Bela. However, Emilio didn’t pay most of the time, and the few times he did, he made sure to give Maria a hard time about it. While Bela was never threatened or harmed, Maria was threatened by Emilio, who said he would kill her if he ever saw her with another man.

Maria migrated to the US to provide for her children in El Salvador while Bela lived with her elder sister in El Salvador. Once Bela’s elder sister became pregnant, Bela came to the US to live with Maria.

The last time Bela communicated with Emilio was when she was 5 years old. Bela is currently in 2nd grade and reports she is happy living with her mother and stepfather.

Bela is eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) because she is unable to reunify with her biological father due to his neglect and abandonment of her. SIJS is available to unaccompanied immigrant children who cannot be reunified with one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. SIJS requires three approvals, one from a state/MD family court and two from USCIS. Because a family court order is required, the attorney who represents Bela will need to be barred in MD or obtain court permission to appear pro hac vice.

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: Baltimore County, MD– not detained, living with her mother and stepfather
• Language: Spanish

For more information about this case, please contact Jennifer Grishkin, Managing Attorney for Pro Bono Coordination, at jennifer@amicacenter.org.

*Pseudonyms are used to protect privacy