Names have been changed to protect client privacy. Photo is representative and does not depict actual IILA clients (credit: Christian Gutierrez Nava, Pexels)

Earlier this year, IILA’s Immigration Legal Services Division embarked on a mission to help a single mother, Dolores, and her three children achieve the stability they desperately needed. Dolores, a U.S. citizen, faced a complex legal battle to secure lawful status for her children–ages 13, 11, and 5–who were all born in Mexico. Despite her citizenship, the children did not automatically qualify for the citizenship as well because of certain legal intricacies. 

The family’s situation became more complicated due to changes in their family dynamics and marital issues. Dolores moved to the U.S., bringing the children with her. At the border, she requested entry for the children, but, since they had no legal right to remain in the U.S. at the time, they were placed in removal proceedings.  

Further complications arose when she missed her children’s critical court hearing date because one of the children fell ill. As a single mother and sole caregiver, she was unable to attend court while managing a sick child. This absence resulted in the children being ordered removed, even though court records acknowledged their mother’s U.S. citizenship. 

The team’s goals for the case were clear: reopen the children’s cases, vacate the removal orders, and ensure the family could apply for lawful permanent residence. But there was one major hurdle—Dolores couldn’t afford the $625 filing fee for her children’s petitions, despite working tirelessly at two jobs. 

IILA’s Managing Attorney Edita Ghushchyan waited for two months, regularly checking in with Dolores. After the November elections, Edita felt a sense of urgency to move the case forward because of the children’s active removal orders. She turned to her community for support and launched a GoFundMe campaign on November 22, rallying friends and family. The response was overwhelming: within just one day, the necessary funds were raised. 

With the financial barrier overcome, Edita and her team filed the petitions and a motion to reopen the case. The motion was granted, and the team then sought termination of the removal proceedings to allow the children to apply for green cards through their mother. Their persistent efforts paid off. On December 19, the removal proceedings were dismissed, and the children are now on the path to legal residency!

Dolores’ story is a testament to the impact we can achieve together. The resilience of clients like Dolores, met with the dedication of leaders like Edita and matched by the outpouring of community support, make for incredible results. At IILA, we are honored to be part of life-changing journeys like this one, and we remain committed to helping families find hope and a brighter future. 

[Update 10/2/2025] In the summer of 2025, the family faced their next hurdle: affording nearly $6,000 in fees to apply for green cards and corresponding required medical exams for the children. For Dolores, a hardworking, single mother, this cost was out of reach. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, IILA recently was able to cover these fees for Dolores and her family and file the children’s green card applications. Dolores and her children are incredibly grateful to IILA’s supporters, who are making their dream of life as a family in the U.S. a more attainable reality. Through our Refugee and Immigrant Emergency Fund, you can help others like Dolores and her children today by making a tax-deductible gift. With the new and increased legal filing fees instituted by the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, families need support now more than ever. Take action today to make a difference in someone’s fight for justice.