Asylum Seekers in Need of Representation

Asylum seekers with attorneys are five times more likely to win their cases as those without counsel. Read about these Bay Area asylum seekers. Then volunteer to represent them today.  

These opportunities are only available for attorneys at San Francisco Bay Area law firms.

For pro bono placement with mentorship: 

“Manuela” is a woman from Guatemala. As a child, Manuela was repeatedly raped by her stepfather. Around 2012, Manuela met her ex-partner, who began physically, verbally and sexually abusing her after she became pregnant with his child. He regularly called her names like “puta” (whore) and told her that he could do whatever he wanted with her because she was his woman. Manuela eventually left her ex-partner and obtained a restraining order, but he continued to stalk, harass and threaten her, even after she had a new partner and another child. Manuela tried to report her ex-partner to the police for violating the restraining order, but they refused to help her. Manuela finally fled to the U.S. with her daughter, arriving in August 2019. LCCRSF assisted her with timely filing her asylum application. Manuela now lives in San Rafael and her individual hearing is scheduled for 1/28/26 at the San Francisco Immigration Court. Manuela’s Immigration Judge and hearing date and time are subject to change. 

“Elena” is an indigenous Maya Mam woman from Guatemala. In 2007, multiple armed members of the Mara 18 gang abducted her. She was held as the property of one of the gang members for years. He tortured her severely, starved her, and violently raped her daily for several years, even after she became pregnant. He insulted her heavily for being indigenous and continued to treat her degradingly because she gave birth to a daughter instead of a son. She tried to escape and relocate, but he tracked her down and found her every time, all the way to Cancun, Mexico. She fled to the U.S., arriving on 7/13/17. LCCRSF assisted her with timely filing her I-589. Elena currently lives in San Francisco and her individual hearing is scheduled for 5/22/2026 before IJ Johnson at the San Francisco Immigration Court.  

“Carla” is an indigenous Maya Mam woman from Guatemala. At 12 years old, Carla worked as a live-in servant for a 40-year-old man and his family. The man, who called her names like “india” (Indian, a derogatory term for indigenous people), regularly sexually assaulted her and threatened her that if she tried to leave, he would kill her family. Carla finally escaped and returned to her family, but she never told them what happened. Back in Carla’s village, she received death threats from Catholic neighbors because she is Christian, and she and her family were regularly harassed and threatened because they are indigenous. Mara 18 gang members repeatedly threatened and harmed her and her family, including killing one of her uncles and shooting one of her aunts. After gang members threatened to kill Carla, she fled to the U.S. with her two sisters in 2016. Sadly, one of her sisters was deported back to Guatemala by Mexican authorities and later killed in Mexico as she attempted to reunite with her sisters. Carla’s sister had been receiving threats from the Mara 18 up until her death. Carla timely lodged her asylum application with the Immigration Court. Carla now lives in Oakland and her individual hearing is scheduled for 6/16/2026 before IJ George at the San Francisco Immigration Court. Carla was also robbed at gunpoint and likely eligible for a U Visa. 

“Cristina” is a woman from El Salvador. Growing up, Cristina was repeatedly sexually abused by her cousin, who was a gang member, and traumatized by her grandmother’s husband’s ongoing sexual abuse of her younger sister. At age 14, Cristina left home to live with a partner and gave birth at 15 years old to her daughter “Jenny”, who was born with cerebral palsy. Because they did not have access to wheelchairs, Cristina carried Jenny everywhere, and Jenny was forced to crawl around at school while other students insulted her, kicked her, stepped on her and physically harmed her. Cristina finally fled to the U.S. with Jenny, arriving in September 2016. Due to difficulties caring for Jenny and incompetent legal representation, Cristina did not submit her asylum application until 3/31/23, after she fought to get her case reopened following previous incompetent representation. However, this likely qualifies as an exception to the one-year bar to asylum. Claudia currently lives in Sacramento and her next master hearing is scheduled for 2/27/27 before IJ Davis at the San Francisco Immigration Court. 

To sign up to volunteer, please contact: Bekah Stroik, Immigrant Justice Program Manager: asylum@lccrsf.org.