government immediately started removal proceedings in Immigration Court. However, because Maria was an unaccompanied minor, she could apply for both asylum and SIJS. Over the last year, with her team’s assistance, Maria has appeared in Immigration Court, Hennepin County Family Court, prepared and filed an asylum application, and prepared and filed a petition for SIJS. She did all of this while attending high school and learning English. Maria’s SIJS was granted, which allows her to apply for residency in the United States. Though she is on a waiting list and needs to wait until her priority date comes up, she now has a legal basis to remain in this country permanently. She currently lives with a loving family and is learning English at a very rapid rate. Most importantly, she is safe and well-cared for. “This work is important to me because in addition to providing needed legal representation, representing Maria made me feel like I was doing something, albeit small, to help the huddled masses at the border.” – Jenny Pusch
PROTECTING THE YOUNG
OLIVIA CARES
TASH BOTTUM
Olivia Cares and Tash Bottum represented the family of a young child who was born to an American mother in Syria and who was later found by United States officials in a refugee camp in Iran. The U.S. Department of State officials believed that her parents were missing in Syria and had likely died during the war in that country. Officials identified other family members of the young child, including a maternal aunt and uncle and their three small children, who were living in the United States. After reuniting the child with her family members, the Department reached out to Fredrikson to help the family. Olivia and Tash worked with the child’s aunt and uncle on the family’s behalf to obtain legal custody, which was required to schedule overdue 12
