Silvia’s Story

Silvia Lopez moved to the United States from El Salvador more than 29 years ago, escaping the civil war that plagued the country from 1980 to 1992. When Silvia first arrived  in 1989, she began the arduous process of applying for asylum and later for a green card...

An immigrant family gets a fighting chance

The Pineda family knows what it is like to fight. Ricardo Pineda served in the U.S. military for five years, including one year in Korea, away from his family. He was honorably discharged because of medical issues. Two of Ricardo’s sons, Juan Pablo Pineda and Kevin...

Despite Abusing His Wife, Diplomatic Immunity Protected Him

By: Clarissa Arevalo, Domestic Violence Staff Attorney  Annette and her children came to Washington D.C. when her husband – a member of the military of a country in central Africa – was posted to the embassy. Already a violent man, he became even more violent in the...