In 2018, at just six years old, Aura arrived in the United States having already endured more than most children ever will.
Her earliest memories are filled with warmth and familiarity. Playing with her cousins, being taken to school, growing up surrounded by family in Guatemala, being cared for by her grandmother. Those memories stayed with her She left because her grandmother could no longer care for her. She traveled with three strangers: people she depended on for safety during at a time when she had little control over her surroundings.
Her journey was deeply unsettling. With no parent by her side and no way to know what would happen next, Aura had to endure her fear quietly. One of the few things she had brought from home was her Bible; just having it was a source of comfort and faith during a journey that no child should face alone.
Then came the moment she had dreamed about for years. Aura was reunited with her mother and siblings when she was 8; the relief was overwhelming. Being back with her family gave her something she had been missing the entire journey. Safety. For the first time in a long while, she could begin to feel steady again.
But coming home didn’t erase the uncertainty surrounding her future. Her stability still depended on navigating a legal system that is complex even for adults. It was through her siblings, who were already receiving help with their own immigration cases, that Aura’s family first learned about Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). Through KIND, she was connected with an attorney who would guide her through every step of the process.
Aura describes that relationship as respectful and supportive. Having someone explain what was happening, stand beside her in court, and advocate for her rights made an enormous difference. The legal process was long, but Aura never faced it alone.
A major turning point came when the court granted custody to her mother. It meant Aura could remain with her family without the constant fear of being separated again. Her future was in the United States, with the people she loved. Slowly, the fear that followed her began to lift.
With KIND’s support, Aura ultimately obtained her Green Card. And the impact was immediate.
