“More than 50,000 unaccompanied children from Central America crossed into the U.S. from Mexico in fiscal year 2014 alone. We owe it to those kids to ensure they won’t be sent back into an unsafe situation by mistake or oversight,” said HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield.

After escaping persecution in Eritrea, Asmait made her way to Israel, where she became a custodian in a neighborhood school. Despite her hard work, the students teased her ruthlessly. Their attitudes changed only after a teacher asked Asmait to share her story with them. “It felt strengthening,” explained Asmait. “I knew then that the reason people are not happy to see us is just because they do not know our story.”

After finishing at Southern Maine Community College, Yves plans to transfer to the University of Southern Maine to complete his Bachelor’s degree. Where does he find the time to study between two jobs and his classes? “It's hard, but I try.”

When Bintou* came to HIAS seeking legal assistance, she was anxious about her future. While she was in the United States pursuing a business degree, war had broken out in Mali, her country of citizenship. She feared it would not be safe for her to return there, but she wasn’t sure what she could do about it.

HIAS Israel Director Sivan Carmel urges lawyers to consider the benefits of pro-bono work with refugees and asylum seekers. "If you join our program you will probably not change the world, but you can make a real difference in the life of one person, of one family."

HIAS is proud to announce that a client, a converted Christian from Tajikistan who was jailed and tortured for bringing bibles into the country, has been granted asylum in the U.S.