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My name is Raphael Garcia and I have been a volunteer interpreter with Esperanza for a little over a year and a half.

Larissa is a trans woman who has been a client with Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project since 2014. She just turned 21 and has an asylum case pending based on persecution in her home country, Honduras. She is currently enrolled in university and getting her degree in Sociology.

Ever since he was a young boy, Bernie* dreamed of joining his home country’s Air Force; he wanted to serve and be a pilot. The violent and precarious environment he grew up in made that dream impossible, stripping it from him without remorse. Living in omnipresent danger was crippling, and he feared that something would happen to him and his family. Eager to change the trajectory of his life, Bernie made the difficult decision to flee to the United States.

Gary D. Brophy is a pro bono attorney for Esperanza who specializes in complex civil litigation law with the firm, Arent Fox LLP. He has been practicing law since 2015.

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Stephanie Lomeli, a Paralegal with Esperanza, spent months helping prepare an NQRP case, working closely with the attorney to reach a victory in the end. Here is an interview about her experience.

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19-year-old Wilmer came to the U.S. from Guatemala in 2013. After working with Esperanza attorney Evelyn Cedeño-Naik, Wilmer won his case in the summer of 2016.

This fall, Wilmer will be a senior in high school, where he is a rising star on the soccer team. He enjoys studying math and English. Wilmer is an aspiring chef, and dreams of going to culinary school after graduation.

Eber is an 18-year-old from Guatemala. After arriving in the U.S. in 2014, Eber began working with an Esperanza attorney on his asylum case. Eber won his case in 2016 and is excited to be living in the United States permanently.

Eber will be entering the 11th grade this fall, and plans to attend college and eventually pursue a career in business. Eber enjoys playing soccer and several musical instruments, particularly the piano.

Brenda is a 19-year-old from Guatemala. She came to the U.S. in 2013 and found herself in immigration removal proceedings. With the help of an Esperanza attorney, Brenda won her asylum case in 2015, allowing her to stay in the U.S.

Currently, Brenda is working and taking English classes. She likes to listen to music in English, watch cooking videos, cook, and play basketball. She dreams of becoming a chef in the future.

When Angel came to the U.S. from Guatemala in 2013, he was reunited with his mother after thirteen long years. Shortly after, he was placed in immigration removal proceedings. With the help of Esperanza staff attorney, Evelyn Cedeño-Naik, Angel was granted Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and then a Green Card, which will allow him to remain in the U.S. permanently.

This fall, 18-year-old Angel will be a senior in high school, where he plans to take four AP courses and several honors classes. Last school year, he was the president of an after-school club called “JUCRIS” which aims to keep recent immigrant students on an academic track. After graduation, Angel wants to attend college in California to stay close to his family.

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David Rutan has been practicing law for 2.5 years. He specializes in Business litigation, and works for the firm Glaser Weil.

Sheena Rude is a personal injury and business litigation attorney practicing in Los Angeles. Although immigration is not her field of law, she was inspired to take a pro bono case with Esperanza.

Kipp Mueller specializes in Employment Law, and represents employees who have been aggrieved by corporate employers. He operates a firm with a partner, called Mueller Vemuru LLP.

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Jhonatan was born in El Salvador, and his parents immigrated to the U.S. when he was a small child. In 2014, Jhonatan came to the U.S. and was placed in removal proceedings. Jhonatan began to work with Esperanza attorney Evelyn Cedeño-Naik and together, less than a year later, they won his case. Since arriving in the U.S., 18-year-old Jhonatan has been attending school and preparing to apply to colleges (Columbia and UC Berkeley are his current top choices). Jhonatan enjoys reading books by Miguel de Unamuno (the famous Spanish essayist, poet and philosopher) and solving Rubik’s Cube puzzles in record time (his personal best is 30 seconds!)

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Marco Rivera was an Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project client who was detained in Adelanto.