Quotations in this story have been translated from Spanish to English.
The journey to seeking humanitarian protection, such as asylum, in the United States is a lengthy and challenging one. To be eligible for asylum, many factors must be considered, such as a person’s home country, their reason for fleeing, who they are traveling with, and even the obstacles they may face on the way. By sharing these unique stories and learning from individuals who hold these lived experiences, we can gain a deeper understanding of the life-changing impact made by ProBAR’s work.
In April of 2019, Andres Jose Andres and his one-year-old son Tommy fled from Guatemala and traveled to the United States, a journey which required endurance and strength. Shortly after their arrival, Andres Jose Andres faced two of the biggest hardships of his life; he was separated from his son and imprisoned in Raymondville, TX, all while trying to seek a better life for his family. Andres spent more than six months separated from Tommy, who was taken across the country to Miami, FL. “What I experienced was very difficult…when they separated me from my son [it] was very painful…and I felt like I was left without many possibilities.”
During his imprisonment, Andres underwent many struggles. Not only
was he forcibly separated from his son, but he also endured rough
conditions in detention. “When I initially got here for about 17 days, I
did not shower. I wore the same clothes and slept on the floor. It was
the most difficult, I faced hunger and had to drink water from the
sink.” To make matters worse, without any family nearby nor any
connections in the area, Andres struggled to find anyone who could help
him. Luckily, after speaking with other individuals in detention he was
able to access a list of attorneys and began making calls. Initially the
calls lead to nothing, but after a few months, his luck changed. “I
found ProBAR’s phone number, and even then, I was doubtful, but shortly
after I had a visitor…I was in shock.”
After making contact with ProBAR, Andres’ case took a complete turn. Not only did he receive the legal aid he desperately needed, but he also learned that he would soon be reunited with his son, who had since been moved to a shelter in New York. “I have no explanation other than gratitude, because when she told me I was to greet my son, I cried with so much happiness.” On October 1, 2019, Andres was released on bail, and with ProBAR’s help, he was not only able to reunite with his son, but was also able to help the rest of his family join him in the United States. Now, Andres, his wife, their son, and their daughter are all on the same case and awaiting their final hearing, fortunate to have a pro bono attorney continuing to represent them.
Reflecting on this experience, Andres shared that he would not have had an opportunity to survive in Guatemala had he stayed, and even though he endured so much hardship, he has nothing but gratitude for the opportunity he was given to support his family, adding that “after learning about ProBAR, I found out that everything is possible.”