Like many women who suffer domestic abuse, Marisol bore her partner’s insults and assaults for a time, hoping he might change and wanting to keep her children and parents safe from violent repercussions. When she decided to file a report, the authorities would not intervene. Early this year, after a particularly life-threatening episode, there was no denying the danger of the situation—either flee or be killed. Until November, Marisol, 27, lived with her partner, Daniel, and their … [Read more...]

Fredys arrived at the KBI comedor from Honduras two years ago, fleeing violence and recruitment from organized crime. When he decided to seek asylum, the KBI/Florence Project Legal Fellow took on his case. Despite the obstacles, his claim was approved, an example of how legal representation can impact outcomes. Today, Fredys lives in Virginia, and returned to Arizona last month to share his story at the KBI Dinner.   In his hometown of Choluteca, Honduras, 26-year-old Fredys Sevilla … [Read more...]

Central American migrants, fleeing their homelands to escape the extreme violence there, are beset by more dangers as they travel through Mexico. Crimes, such as extortion, robbery, and kidnapping, are common, and many migrants encounter discrimination, corrupt government officials, and deportation. Kevin shared his story with the KBI, an account that illustrates how harrowing the journey can be. My name is Kevin, and I’m 24 years old, born and raised in a district of Guatemala City. My … [Read more...]