Leap of Faith: Cinthya’s Story
Taking a leap of faith, Cinthya got married and moved to the United States. With IIBA’s support, she became a permanent resident in 2003. Two decades later, Cinthya again turned to IIBA for legal help to obtain citizenship, in hopes of giving back to her adopted community in Redwood City.
Finding Home: Leska’s Story
After surviving a tragic accident, Leska left Ukraine and found home and community in the Bay Area. She worked with IIBA’s Redwood City team to achieve her dream of becoming a U.S. citizen. Now, Leska hopes to coach and inspire others with the invaluable lessons from her own immigration journey.
Roots of Love: Eric & Patricia’s Story
Before they met in 2015, Eric and Patricia each had complicated relationships with the U.S. immigration system. After falling in love and getting married, the couple would again have to navigate the complex system to prove their love to immigration officials.
IIBA Client: Amelia Hernandez
“IIBA staff always kept me updated on the status of my case and made me feel secure,” says Amelia Hernandez. She appreciates that sense of security more than ever after her nightmarish journey to the U.S.
Engineering His Dream: Moises Bautista
We first introduced you to Moises in the winter of 2013. An ambitious and enthusiastic college student, Moises had come to the U.S. as a teenager to escape the growing dangers in his hometown in Mexico. While Moises was taking classes at Cañada Community College, IIBA helped him apply for U- Visa status.
Staff Profile: Hangama Asefi
Community Outreach Coordinator of IIBA’s Fremont office, Hangama Asefi has intimate knowledge of the traumas many immigrants face.
IIBA Client: Maria
Maria arrived at IIBA’s citizenship preparation class last Tuesday just as she had done every week for the past six months. But this Tuesday was different since Maria was there to inform her fellow classmates and IIBA staff that she had just passed her citizenship interview and was now a U.S. Citizen.
Maria Luna
Through her accomplishment, Maria not only has earned full access to all the benefits of citizenship for herself, but she has also paved the way for her son. “Now that I have my citizenship, my son is eligible to become a U.S. citizen.” Asked what she would tell someone in need of immigration services, Maria says, “I would fully endorse IIBA to anyone in need of support and help to make their dreams come true.”
Antonio Rojas
“I always wanted to make my mother proud,” says IIBA client Antonio Rojas. This desire became his guiding principal when Antonio left his home in Mexico, a twelve-year-old setting out on his own, seeking a better life in the United States.
Staff Profile: Xenia Martinez
When you meet Xenia Martinez, a former IIBA client and current employee, it doesn’t take long to notice there’s something special about her--not just the warmth of her smile or her quick laughter, but her innate ability to inspire hope in people. “Everything is like a seed,” she says. “You just have to pour water on it to let it grow.”
