Juan's Story

Juan* grew up in the rural northwest mountains of Guatemala and speaks the indigenous language of Ixil. When he was nine years-old, both of his parents passed away from medical conditions.

As a teenager, Juan began experiencing medical issues. In the fall of 2016, he left his family, and journeyed to the United States as his health deteriorated. Juan was apprehended by Customs and Border Protection officers and sent to a shelter for unaccompanied immigrant children in Arizona. After multiple tests and hospitalizations in Arizona, Juan was eventually diagnosed with end stage renal disease. Juan’s physicians determined that unless he received a kidney transplant, he would need dialysis for the rest of his life.

Juan repeatedly expressed to his Young Center Child Advocate that he was fearful of returning to Guatemala. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to access medical care there. There was no medical doubt that if Juan were to stop receiving dialysis, toxins would build up in his body and he would likely die within a few weeks.

Our Child Advocate found pro bono attorneys to meet with Juan and represent him in his asylum case so he could stay in the United States. Ultimately, because of our advocacy and the support of the pro bono attorneys, Juan was granted asylum. He is now able to live independently and support himself. He continues to wait for a kidney transplant, but he no longer feels hopeless. He has developed a network of support with other Ixil-speaking people in the United States.

If Juan arrived today, he would likely be turned away at the border without any questions asked. And even if he made it to a government official and asked for protection, he would be turned away. He would not win the protection he is eligible for under existing law, and he most certainly would not have been eligible for a kidney transplant. In other words, under the administration's proposed “public-health-driven” changes to asylum, Juan would've been denied both protection and life-saving medical services.

*Child’s name changed to protect his privacy.