Washington, D.C. (June 16, 2021) – Ayuda is thrilled to hear about the expansion of the CAM program to include new applicants and new categories of applicants not previously eligible to petition for their children to come to the United States safely and lawfully in the immediate future.

Most notably, yesterday’s announcement expands eligibility for CAM to children of applicants for U Visas and asylum in the United States.

Hundreds of Ayuda’s clients have waited years, through delays not of their own causing, for decision on their U Visa and asylum applications.

This prolonged period of limbo has harmed our clients in myriad ways, but for many of our clients the worst of those harms has been the prolonged period of family separation created by this limbo – often separation at a time when their children are in enormous danger in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras – the three countries included in this program.

Restoring and expanding CAM is one step toward centering dignity and humanity in US immigration processes, and we hope many more such steps will come.

Read more here – https://lnkd.in/eQb6EBu

About Ayuda

Ayuda helps vulnerable immigrants succeed and thrive in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Since our founding in 1973, Ayuda has served more than 150,000 immigrants throughout the region. Ayuda is the only non-profit service provider in the area that provides a wide range of immigration and family law assistance, social services, and language access support for all immigrants — including women, men, and children — from anywhere in the world. This comprehensive and open approach breaks down barriers, helps those in need, and makes our communities stronger.

Survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other crimes deserve timely access to for the work permits to which they are entitled. It is a genuine honor for Ayuda to stand with immigrant survivors from all over the world, today and every day, especially in moments of joy like that brought by this announcement.