Each client had a story that needed to be told. Each story was powerful, emotional and hopeful. Their stories reflected on a world filled with corruption, poverty, violence and discrimination. But each client expressed hope that they could make a better life for themselves and their children in the United States. In them, I saw my parents who also made that journey in search for a better life for me. Our job was to help empower the women and children to tell their stories before a judge or an Asylum Officer. I had the opportunity to accompany a client to a hearing before an Asylum Officer. The process is intimidating. For four hours, we sat in a room with a translator on the phone. During that time, the Asylum Officer tested the credibility of our client. I objected to several translation errors during the Officer’s inquiry. After he finished I had the opportunity to ask our client questions so that she could tell her full story, and delivered a closing statement. The client was later released from detention.
I can only describe the work that we are doing in Dilley as God’s work.
Eddie Cando ’20 Fordham Law School March 2019 Spring Break Dilley Service Trip
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