Sylvia’s Story

After coming to the United States to live with family, Sylvia fell in love and married a U.S. citizen. Soon, her husband became physically and emotionally abusive. He threatened to have Sylvia deported if she reported his attacks. Sylvia’s husband also had control over her ability to obtain a green card. For more than nine […]

Caleb’s Story

Arriving in the United States, Caleb experienced both safety and sadness. He was now far away from the rebels in his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who had beaten and starved him. However, Caleb had to leave his wife and five children behind when fleeing for his life. Caleb needs ongoing medical […]

Ana’s Story

Ana’s story began in Guatemala, where she was born. Her father died when she was four, and Ana spent the next several years caring for her sick mother. When her mother died, Ana was left in the care of her godmother, who brought her to the United States. Since the two were not related, U.S. […]

Vivienne’s Story

Vivienne’s traffickers promised her a better-paying job and the chance to go to school in America. What they gave her when she arrived from Malawi was a brutal life of domestic servitude. For more than two years, Vivienne endured physical, sexual and psychological abuse. Attorneys from ABLE became part of Vivienne’s rescue team. They helped […]

Jessica’s Story

Losing a parent is difficult at any age, but it can be even harder when you are not a U.S. citizen. Jessica, her parents, and her two brothers moved to the U.S. when she was five years old. After her father left the family and was deported, Jessica’s mother became ill and died unexpectedly. Alone […]

Pascal’s Story

Pascal is a 66-year-old man who originally came to the United States as a refugee from Burundi. Because of a learning disability made worse by living through Burundi’s ethnic warfare, Pascal was unable to learn to read or write in English. As a refugee and then a Lawful Permanent Resident, Pascal relied on public benefits, […]

Rosa’s Story

Born in Mexico, Rosa entered the United States as a young child, arriving in Toledo where she graduated from high school. She is now 24-years-old and was recently detained by the U.S. Border Patrol at a gas station in Toledo. She was scheduled for removal from the U.S. because she could not prove she was […]

Rob’s Story

Rob’s mother left him in the care of a relative and came to the United States from Jamaica to make a better life for herself and her son. Two years later, Rob joined his mother, who had become a U.S. citizen. At this time, Rob was 8-years-old, his parents had never married, and he never […]

Charles’ Story

Collaboration and coordination of legal expertise among ABLE attorneys and staff effectively met a number of needs for Charles, a homeless Cameroonian man with mental health issues. Diagnosed with bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder, Charles was committed to the Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital after being found not guilty by reason of insanity for spitting on police officers […]

Gloria’s Story

After her police-officer husband was killed in the line of duty, Gloria had to find a way to provide for her family. She placed her children in her mother’s care and left El Salvador for work in the United States. During the next few years, Gloria worked hard and saved the money necessary to bring […]