Gabriel* grew up surrounded by violence. He fled his hometown at the age of 12, after enduring five years of violent attacks from gang members trying to recruit him. When the gang began targeting his siblings, Gabriel and his family knew they no longer had any choice if they wanted him to survive. He had to flee.

Gabriel’s journey to the U.S. was exceptionally long and dangerous. He spent more than a year trapped in Mexico, forced to work without pay. He escaped and hopped on a train headed north. But as the train approached the border, Mexican cartel members captured Gabriel and his fellow travelers, holding them ransom for months. When he finally arrived at the border, he was taken into U.S. custody.

Because of new policies put in place by the current administration, Gabriel had no way to get released from detention. As his Child Advocate, Young Center-Harlingen’s Staff Attorney Juan Gonzalez met with Gabriel every week, building trust and carefully peeling back the layers of his story, until we had the evidence necessary to secure him a place in a foster home.

Today, Gabriel is thriving in his new home, playing sports, listening to music, able to ride a bicycle to the corner store, provided the care every child needs and deserves.

While Gabriel was able to find safety and an opportunity to flourish, thousands of other children and teens are deprived of the right to seek asylum because of the administration’s continued attacks on protections for immigrant children.

Your support ensures children like Gabriel have a Child Advocate at their side. Please make a donation to support our work with immigrant children in custody.

*Child’s name changed to protect his privacy.