Love Endures
Born in a small town in El. Salvador, Ms. Z always knew that she felt different than those around her. In a culture where discussions about sexuality and gender norms are often taboo, Ms. Z, a masculine-presenting lesbian, found herself challenging societal expectations from an early age.
Ms. Z’s upbringing was marked by unpredictability. Having lost her mother at a young age and with her father mostly absent, she was left in the care of her brothers, until they moved into the city seeking job opportunities. She was then taken to her grandmother, whose words echoed society around her, reprimanding her for not conforming to traditional gender norms, and criticizing her for being ‘too manly.’ Ms. Z was left with a sense of vulnerability, constantly fearing mistreatment from others, who knew she had no one to protect her. With no alternative, she was taken to her father’s house, where the hostility she encountered only intensified, facing constant mockery and threats by him and other men in her community, regardless of her efforts to conceal her identity. Ms. Z recalls a distressing afternoon spent working on homework with a classmate, when the classmate's father came home in evident disapproval of the situation. Enraged that his daughter was spending time with “different” people, he kicked Ms. Z out of their house, intimidating her with threats. Seeking support, she went home to her father, though he responded with [RB1] abuse before kicking her out.
Ms. Z took refuge with her sister in the city, agreeing to care for her nephew in exchange for a place to stay despite their differences. Committed to finishing high school, she enrolled in a smaller school and attended night classes to avoid harassment. It was during this time that Ms. Z remembers meeting the woman she knew she wanted to marry while playing soccer. Despite her feelings, fear kept Ms. Z from pursuing her openly. Around a year later, in 2015, she traveled to the United States, sadly losing contact.
When Ms. Z arrived in the U.S., she immediately encountered challenges. Initially placed in a crammed holding cell in customs and border protection facilities, she was later transferred to a detention center. Despite being granted bond following her credible fear interview, her hearing was scheduled far into the future, and she unintentionally missed it amidst life’s chaos. Living with her sister throughout this time provided some solace; her sister’s acceptance of her sexuality empowered her to embrace long-desired changes like cutting her hair and dressing more authentically. However, her sister’s husband’s lack of acceptance cast shadows over the experience, his condescending remarks serving as constant reminders of the societal pressure to conform. Despite this, Ms. Z persisted and found a job to help sustain herself. However, her undocumented status soon became a barrier to these efforts when she was offered a promotion contingent on legal documentation. Faced with limited options, she reluctantly accepted aid from a coworker who provided her with false work documentation.
A year later, after a soccer game in Florida, while riding home with a friend on a motorcycle without helmets, they were stopped by law enforcement. Her friend attempted to flee, but she stayed and was arrested for false documentation. She was initially released, but while living in Alabama with her sister, she was detained by local police on behalf of the Florida authorities. Unable to obtain legal representation, she was then transferred to a detention center, where she was held for three months before being deported to El Salvador in 2017.
Upon her return to El Salvador, Ms. Z faced daily threats, abuse, and harassment from local gangs, but she found refuge in soccer, where she reconnected with her former love interest, their relationship developing despite the secrecy they were forced into. Their dates were covert, disguised as friendly outings to the mall and quiet fast-food dinners, requiring careful timing to avoid suspicion.
One night in 2018, Ms. Z and her partner faced a violent assault by gang members outside her brother’s home. They pushed them to the ground, hitting them as they called out derogatory names and threatened to kill them. After begging to be let go, they were given ten minutes to get away, so they ran as fast as they could. With nobody to turn to for help, they sought refuge first with her partner’s aunt, her father, and a cousin, but facing mistreatment at every turn, they decided to move to the city in search of safety and a fresh start. However, despite securing a steady job, the city did not bring long-term relief to Ms. Z and her partner. After applying for a better-paying position at the company, she was deemed unfit for the work due to her lack of conformity with existing gender norms and subsequently fired.
After enduring threats and abuse from the police, In January 2023, Ms. Z and her partner fled El Salvador, traveling through Guatemala into Mexico. Despite having permits to travel within Mexico, they faced constant harassment and extortion at immigration checkpoints. Their journey towards the US Mexico border took a terrifying turn near Tijuana when armed individuals in ski masks boarded the bus taking 30 passengers’ captive. After being transported to the middle of the desert, they were subjected to further threats and forced to strip their clothing for inspection. Eventually they were taken to a secluded house subjected to further abuse and held against their will. The group, now numbering 60, some who had been there for weeks, was crammed into a small room with little food and water. Their captors collected their IDs and contact information, intending to extort money from their families in exchange for their release.
After this horrific captivity, they were eventually rescued by Mexican law enforcement and found temporary refuge with a couple for two weeks before transitioning to a shelter. It was from this shelter that they were able to successfully secure an appointment on the CBP 1 app in June, marking a hopeful step forward in their journey.
In September 2023, the Immigration Justice Project (IJP) began representing Ms. Z. Attorney Olavo Michel was in contact with her and her partner to gather evidence, learn her story, and prepare her prehearing statement. By the time the trial date arrived in February 2024, Olavo and Ms. Z, knowing the significant impact the case would have, had prepared meticulously, and their hard work resulted in Ms. Z obtaining asylum.
After winning the case, while waiting with Ms. Z for her partner, Olavo asked her what she wanted to do first. She expressed a wish to greet her girlfriend with flowers. Olavo arranged to get the flowers, allowing Ms. Z to surprise her partner.
Seeing them together, celebrating their hard-fought win, was a proud and joyous moment for Olavo and a powerful reminder of the life-changing nature of the work that the IJP does daily.