Ariel* is ambitious and spirited. He is full of passions, including cooking a variety of interesting dishes and eagerly immersing himself in the world of movies.
Ariel was introduced to LCYC through his social worker as a teenager. He expressed his desire to work and live his life without fear, but his immigration status made that difficult. At 16, Ariel made the courageous decision to leave Guatemala and seek refuge in the United States for safety reasons, including bullying and financial constraints.
His social worker encouraged him to connect with LCYC to receive support in addressing his immigration issues. Ariel began working with Pro Bono Manager Lu Jiang and LCYC’s volunteer program, Pro Bono Champions (PBC). After connecting with Lu, it was determined that Ariel was eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, or SIJS. SIJS is a youth visa available for people under age 21 who have experienced parental abuse, abandonment, or neglect, making them eligible to establish legal residency in the United States.
The first step to receiving SIJS is to obtain a Vulnerable Youth Guardianship (VYG) in state court. A VYG is a court order that appoints a guardian for a person between ages 18-20 who requests support from a responsible adult of their choosing because they have been abused, abandoned, neglected by either one or both parents. Ariel worked with his LCYC team to file the VYG, which was granted and allowed him to stay in Washington with a family member. With this newfound stability, Ariel was soon able to enroll into high school.
After obtaining the VYG, the next step of the SIJS process is to file a final SIJS petition in immigration court. Attorneys with PBC provide representation for the VYG case in state court, and partner with immigration attorneys who address the SIJS case in immigration court. All hands were on deck to provide support for Ariel.
In addition to providing Ariel with legal representation, Ariel was supported in his nonlegal needs, such as getting food, clothing, and other supplies. Unfortunately, though Ariel now had more stability, he struggled to meet those needs. Due to the holistic and wraparound services that he could access, Ariel emphasized feeling more relaxed, able to come out of his shell, and safer than before reaching out to LCYC.
Wonderfully, Ariel’s final SIJS petition was soon successful, providing Ariel a path to citizenship and work authorization. Ariel envisions a promising future ahead with many more passions to explore. His dreams include finishing school, visiting New York, opening his own restaurant, and hiking snow-covered mountains, particularly Mount Rainier. He is excited to pursue his passions and now feels that is possible. When Ariel opens his restaurant, he hopes Lu and his social worker are his first customers.
*The client’s name has been changed to protect their privacy. LCYC was given permission to share their story.