Mari's Story
As a young girl growing up in Honduras, Mari was a happy child who loved school, had many friends, and dreamed of becoming a doctor. As she grew, though, Mari began to realize that everything she loved about her life was in danger. By the time she entered middle school, Mari had endured repeated threats from individuals and groups who wanted to hurt her. Although she lived with both parents and an older brother, they were unable to protect her from harm. Mari had a gut-wrenching choice to make: stay in a country where it was unsafe for her to attend school—or even leave her home alone, or leave her family and everything she knew and travel to an unknown country. At the age of 14, Mari made the courageous choice to flee her country. The trek to the U.S. was long, hard, and full of danger. But, Mari knew it was safer than remaining in Honduras.
Upon arriving in the U.S., Mari was detained by the U.S. government until a relative in the U.S. could be located. After being reunited with her relative in St. Louis, Mari found the MICA Project. The MICA Project reviewed her case and offered to work with her to apply for asylum. During the many meetings she had with her MICA Project project attorney and staff, she revealed the tragedies she had endured, which haunt her to this day. Her story broke everyone’s hearts because her words depicted the violence she observed on a regular basis and, most shockingly, the violence she personally survived shortly before fleeing her country.
For almost a year, Mari and her attorney have worked tirelessly to prepare her asylum case. Recently, this courageous young lady had her asylum interview. At this hearing, she showed great composure as she described the painful events that drove her out of her homeland. She now must wait several months, or longer, to receive a decision on her application, but her MICA Project attorney is optimistic about a positive decision in her case. As Mari waits for the decision, she is attending school, improving her English language skills, playing soccer with her friends, and thinking about attending college. She is relived to be able to live in safety—although she misses her parents terribly. She dreams that one day her parents will be able to visit her in the U.S.
Upon arriving in the U.S., Mari was detained by the U.S. government until a relative in the U.S. could be located. After being reunited with her relative in St. Louis, Mari found the MICA Project. The MICA Project reviewed her case and offered to work with her to apply for asylum. During the many meetings she had with her MICA Project project attorney and staff, she revealed the tragedies she had endured, which haunt her to this day. Her story broke everyone’s hearts because her words depicted the violence she observed on a regular basis and, most shockingly, the violence she personally survived shortly before fleeing her country.
For almost a year, Mari and her attorney have worked tirelessly to prepare her asylum case. Recently, this courageous young lady had her asylum interview. At this hearing, she showed great composure as she described the painful events that drove her out of her homeland. She now must wait several months, or longer, to receive a decision on her application, but her MICA Project attorney is optimistic about a positive decision in her case. As Mari waits for the decision, she is attending school, improving her English language skills, playing soccer with her friends, and thinking about attending college. She is relived to be able to live in safety—although she misses her parents terribly. She dreams that one day her parents will be able to visit her in the U.S.
Ensure other brave clients like Mari are able to find safety in the Land of the Free.
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Donate today to Ensure the Brave Have a Home!
