August 25, 2025
In 2017, at just 11 years old, Emerson fled El Salvador with his uncle, cousin and her young daughter. Their goal was simple but urgent: escape violence and reunite with the mother he hadn’t seen in two years. The journey was perilous with long days of walking, river crossings, and carrying his three-year-old cousin when her small legs gave out.
“I remember carrying her because she would not let anyone else hold her,” Emerson recalls. “Sometimes we walked for hours. One night, I crossed a river and kept walking for almost three hours until a patrol car found us.”
After weeks in a shelter, Emerson was finally reunited with his mother in the United States. The moment is etched in his memory. “When I saw her, I froze. She ran to me crying, and I started to cry too. I had missed her so much.”
Adjusting to a new country was overwhelming. “Everything looked so big. My mom took me to a pizza buffet, and I could not believe how much food there was. On the road, sometimes we went two days without eating.”
Soon after arriving, Emerson was connected to Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). “I say KIND found me,” Emerson says. “They gave me a lawyer who guided me every step of the way.”
KIND’s support went beyond legal help. “They invited me to programs about safety, cyberbullying, and gave out school supplies and shoes. Those opportunities meant a lot.”
One of Emerson’s most memorable days came when his lawyer called to say his Green Card arrived. “I went to KIND’s office with my mom. I couldn’t believe it. I was finally legally here. My mom almost cried.”
Becoming a permanent resident opened doors Emerson once thought were closed. “Schools give me more opportunities. It has made a huge impact.”
At 18, Emerson is thriving. Inspired by his teachers, he dreams of becoming a Spanish or literature teacher and owning a home one day. “My teachers push me to improve. Some went to Harvard, Rice, Yale. It’s amazing to learn from them.”
His advice to other immigrant children: “Even when things seem bad, the sun always rises. Do not give up.”
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