Our Clients

Ayuda helps a young mother rebuild her life

Maribel is a 20-year-old woman from Central America. At age 16, she left her country after she found out she was pregnant, both fleeing abuse and to provide a better life for her child. She crossed into the US and was detained by Border Patrol. She had her son while...

Julissa’s Story: Overcoming Abuse

Julissa* is a South American woman who came to Ayuda seeking legal representation in obtaining a civil protection order against her husband and father of her child. Julissa and Robert were in a relationship for five years and lived together with their then 4-year old...

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are Dying in Silence.

by Ayuda Development Intern Covid-19 has taken many lives and destroyed the livelihood of thousands of people. It forced us to live a new normal while keeping up with the regular day-to-day responsibilities. However, as the pandemic draws on, the number of hate crimes...

Dominica’s Story

Dominica’s Story

Dominica,* is a survivor of human trafficking and sexual assault. When Ayuda attorneys first met with Dominica, she was already attending regular check-in appointments with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Fairfax, Virginia, awaiting her...

Ayuda Client Shares Her Story for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Ayuda Client Shares Her Story for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

*Tali is a Middle Eastern woman who came to Ayuda seeking legal representation in obtaining a civil protection order (“CPO”) against her ex-husband and father of her child.  When Tali and Amir started dating, Amir was charming, caring, and kind. However, once they...

Erlinda’s Story: “I was trafficked by my diplomat”

Erlinda’s Story: “I was trafficked by my diplomat”

Erlinda* came from the Philippines to work as a domestic worker for a diplomat in Washington D.C. She traveled on a visa for domestic workers of foreign dignitaries. However, upon her arrival in Washington D.C., Erlinda’s employer confiscated her identity...

Refugee, mother and survivor, becomes U.S. citizen after 8 years

Refugee, mother and survivor, becomes U.S. citizen after 8 years

It is because of supporters like you, that Ayuda was able to help save me and my family and put us on the path to recovery. In 2004, my family and I were separated. I was 19 years old and civil war had plagued my home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)....

From Victim to Survivor: Sabah’s Path to Recovery

From Victim to Survivor: Sabah’s Path to Recovery

Sabah is a young Middle Eastern woman who came to Ayuda seeking legal representation for a civil protection order against her ex-boyfriend, Tim. Sabah and Tim had been a relationship for two years. During their entire relationship, Tim was verbally, physically, and...