Providing Legal Security for Youth: Loan Huynh and Paula Blenker

ADOPTION UPDATE

Loan Huynh

Paula Blenker

Like life, pro bono projects can be complex and require additional services, even years after the initial work. Beginning in 2011, Loan Huynh and paralegal Paula Blenker began representing Moses, who had been abandoned as a baby in a public bathroom in Kafanchan, Nigeria, and left to die. He was found by nuns and brought to a motherless children’s home, where it was determined that he suffered from cerebral palsy. Because of the extreme poverty and lack of resources at the home, Moses was left to sleep in a dirty steel crib, was malnourished and had very limited contact with people due to fear and lack of information about his condition.

Karen, a social worker from Minnesota, happened to see Moses when she was visiting an orphanage in Nigeria in 2004. Karen was told that Moses was dying, and she learned that he had been kept isolated in horrible conditions. From that point forward, Karen, with much help from others, devoted her life to bringing Moses to America, finding health care for him and providing Moses with the life he deserves. Loan and Paula represented Karen and Moses with respect to immigration and adoption proceedings. The initial immigration journey for Moses was not easy. Karen could not immediately bring him back with her–he had to apply for a special visa and wait until it was approved.

In 2011, with Fredrikson’s assistance, Karen petitioned for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status for him, which was granted. With continued assistance from the Fredrikson team, Moses then applied for permanent residence, which was granted in 2012. There were other hurdles as well–one of which was meeting the birth record requirement despite the lack of a birth record or other documentation that would help determine his actual age. Ultimately, these efforts succeeded, and Karen adopted Moses. In 2018, Moses became eligible for naturalization, and the team—this time including Kurt Rempe and legal administrative assistant Mary Esjornson, with Loan providing advice— stepped back up to the plate. The process culminated when Moses appeared at his naturalization hearing. Kurt described the hearing as follows:

“We asked for a waiver of the English and civics test, but the immigration agent was a stickler on Moses reading and understanding the oath and confirming that he will not take up arms to fight for America. Moses was really struggling at first and very nervous. Karen gave him a pat on the back, he paused, and then stepped up and got through it. It was something to see.”

Kurt Rempe congratulating Moses after the naturalization hearing.