Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) offers vital support to asylum-seekers, families and individuals who are in desperate need of safety and unable to return to their home country due to either persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. We extend this support through our CARE (Counseling, Access, Referrals, and Education) for Newcomers program as well as our Legal Services program. Through these programs, we serve people like Jesus, from Nicaragua, to whom we provided immigration legal services and household items, medical support, and other items to start his new life.
In late August 2022, Jesus embarked on a life-changing journey to the United States. Discrimination and marginalization had become unbearable for Jesus and his family, who are members of the Miskito tribe, compelling them to seek a better, safer life in the U.S.
“In Nicaragua, opportunities for the Miskito people were scarce, and we faced unfair treatment and degradation. The decision to leave home was not easy, but the hope of a brighter future for me and my family was more important,” Jesus explains.
The journey from Nicaragua to the U.S.-Mexico border was filled with immense challenges for Jesus. Drawing upon his innate resilience and Miskito upbringing of being accustomed to long walks, Jesus embarked on an 18-day trek through Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.
There were numerous checkpoints to navigate, often necessitating disembarking from buses and traversing treacherous mountainous terrain. Nights were spent outdoors, at gas stations or in the woods, wherever safety could be found. Toward the end, he was fortunate to catch rides in Mexico, which eased the journey.
Traveling ahead of his family – a wife, two children, and grandchildren – Jesus ensured his safe arrival before his loved ones started on the same perilous journey. His family arrived in Mexico several weeks later, and soon crossed the border, although they would not all reunite for nearly a month as they were held in different locations.
Upon reaching the U.S. border, Jesus received clothing, blankets, and medical assistance. He spent 10 days in an ICE detention center, after which he was assigned a city to move to by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In his case, it was Baltimore, where he had a friend as a reference. Before his flight to Baltimore, Jesus was fitted with an ankle monitoring device which caused him a bit of emotional turmoil as he felt like a criminal.
“They put the ankle bracelet on me right before I boarded my plane to Baltimore. I’m not sure why I received the bracelet, while other people around me received either a phone or a document. I felt like a prisoner, but everything happens for a reason and [I] try to move on from it.”
One of the most profound moments on this journey was the reunion with his family, after Jesus had already been living in America for a month. Loneliness and sadness had weighed heavily during the separation, but the joy of finally being reunited was truly life changing.
“When they arrived … I was so happy and relieved from my worries. I’m very grateful because it changed my life. They moved in with me in Baltimore and it felt complete … to be living in the U.S. together.”
Shortly after the family reunited, Jesus had another life-changing moment: his asylum application was approved within a mere six months of his arrival, filling him with immense relief and joy. Asylum-seekers frequently endure significantly longer waiting periods for their requests to be processed, and Jesus considered himself exceptionally fortunate. With the approval of asylum, his ankle bracelet was removed, and he began rebuilding his life alongside his family.
Jesus’ wife and granddaughter also received asylum status relatively quickly. However, this same fortune wasn‘t extended to his sons who are still in the processing stage. Jesus is hopeful his sons will soon receive the same good news as the rest of the family, and in the meantime, they remain optimistic.
“I do what I can to make sure they do not miss any court appointments or any deadline to submit their applications. I want them to have the same opportunity as me.”
Even with approval of his asylum application, the backlog in processing Jesus’ work permit and social security benefits has hindered his ability to work and provide for his family.
“I used to be a mechanic back home. I’m particularly good with cars and I just want to start working and providing for myself and my family. It’s been three months since I submitted my application. There is not much you can do when you don’t have those things in place.”
Despite the setbacks, Jesus’ main priority is to provide for his children. He’s also taking English language classes to improve his communication skills, and his long-term aspiration is to purchase a home here, allowing him to bring his parents from Nicaragua.
Jesus’ story serves as a beacon of hope, but it also underscores the need for humane and dignified approach for those seeking refuge and asylum. There are countless migrants who face unimaginable suffering in attempts to access their legal right to seek asylum in the United States. Jesus’ drive to work also highlights the importance of the extension and rapid provision of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to our new neighbors.
LSSNCA provides essential services to asylum-seekers like Jesus, offering legal assistance, documentation support, and the crucial lifeline needed to navigate the complex journey to safety. Please consider supporting our legal services today.
Serve Boldly 