meeting the needs of our community: removal defense expansion

Marisol walked into Camino at a moment when her world was coming apart. An immigration judge had ordered her removed, and she had only days to fight for the right to stay in the place she now called home.

When she shared her story, our team of staff and volunteers moved instantly. We gathered around her, determined to buy her the one thing she needed most: time. Time to appeal, to breath and to hope again. 

As we learned more, the truth became heartbreakingly clear.

Marisol had a strong asylum case, stronger than anyone had realized. But the attorney she had paid thousands of dollars to defend her had done only the bare minimum. Because of that, Marisol had nearly lost everything.

So we started over.

Piece by piece, we rebuilt her case. We collected evidence. We drafted declarations. We prepared the strongest appeal we could possibly create.

We’re still waiting for the final decision. But one thing is already certain: Marisol is no longer facing this fight alone. Now, she has a circle of people who know her story. Who believe in her. Who are ready to stand beside her-for as long as it takes-to fight for her safety, her dignity, and her chance to stay.

As deportation proceedings increase, more people are walking through our doors facing the same urgent risk Marisol faced, often with no legal representation at all. That’s why we are expanding our services to include full removal defense, so we can meet our clients where the system puts them most at risk.

Removal defense allows us to represent individuals facing deportation and ensure that no one has to face the immigration system alone. This expansion is not about adding a new program, it’s about responding to the reality our clients are living every day.

As we close out the year, your support allows us to meet families at their most vulnerable moments. A year-end gift today will help us expand legal services, build removal defense capacity, and ensure no one goes through this process alone.