Surviving Domestic Violence: A Survivor’s Immigration Story
By: Flaviano Graciano / Communications Manager
Selena (pseudonym) is a young woman who survived seemingly insurmountable circumstances to fight for her abuser’s conviction and for her own path to lawful immigration status. Around the ages of 8 or 9 years old, Selena was brought into the U.S., undocumented, to live with her mother, stepfather, and half-siblings.
In the U.S., Selena’s mom physically and emotionally abused her for years. She then left the family, placing Selena and her half-siblings into the care and custody of Selena’s stepfather. Selena remembers her mother telling her stepfather that he could do whatever he wanted with her. It was then that her stepfather began sexually abusing Selena.
Her stepfather only got worse from there. He kept her from attending school and made her a domestic/child servant. For years she was forced to act like a mother to her half-siblings and like a wife to him. In her early 20’s, Selena gave birth to a baby girl fathered by her stepfather. Fearing for her daughter’s safety, Selena sought out a friend’s help and finally reported her stepfather to law enforcement.
In 2018, Selena was referred to NMILC through one of our Survivor Advancement Program community partners. Our staff advocated for Selena in the investigation and prosecution of her abuser, who was eventually convicted. NMILC assisted Selena in obtaining a T visa as a survivor of human trafficking.
Through Selena’s brave actions and the advocacy of legal professionals, she now lives free from her abusive stepfather, setting an example of resiliency and agency for her young daughter.
Flaviano Graciano is the Communications Manager at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center.
Edited & Posted July 8, 2022 by Flaviano Graciano, Communications Manager