Maricela came to the U.S. for her and her family’s future.

Maricela’s father left when she was young. She and her remaining family worked hard to support themselves, but Maricela eventually needed to leave school to provide more help.

Shortly after she turned 17, Maricela decided to come to the U.S. to study, work, and build a home for herself and her family. She met Amica Center staff through our work with minors who come to the U.S. without a parent or guardian, and we referred her case to pro bono attorney Allen Pegg and legal assistant Maria Helmick at Hogan Lovells.

Maricela’s immigration journey was longer than most, but she and her pro bono team stayed committed to her case. Finally, just a few days before her 25th birthday, Maricela won permanent U.S. residency—also known as a “green card.”