IWC Accompaniment volunteers Katie & Kelly with clients outside the immigration court. H., the woman in the black top, had just won her merits hearing.
H. is a young Guatemalan woman who had her merits hearing in mid-July. She had been in the US for a number of years and could finally argue before a judge as to why she should be allowed to stay in the United States.
We met H. and her partner about an hour before her hearing. This allowed time for the volunteers to help H. communicate with her attorney, to do some vital prep. work, and to establish trust and connection.
While H. was in the courtroom with her attorney, we sat with H.’s partner making small talk in the waiting room. The hearing was about three hours long. During a recess, H. shared that she did not think things were going well. We listened and encouraged her, and then we took a few moments to pray together. Then H. returned to court.
Finally, H. and her attorney returned to the waiting room with amazing news. She won!
Then we all went out to celebrate. H. shared how much it had meant to her to be with people who she could connect to and communicate with. The prayer had given her a true sense of peace. Then she said she wanted to become part of the Accompaniment program. We assured her that, when her status is secure, she too would have an opportunity to help someone too.
