Esther’s Family

“Roseline” fled to the United States with her young children immediately following the earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010. She and her family settled in Massachusetts near the children’s grandmother, “Esther.” Roseline’s children enrolled in local schools, and the family thrived in their new home.

Sadly, eight years later, Roseline suffered a stroke and passed away, leaving her children without a guardian. In the wake of this tragedy, their grandmother Esther stepped in to take custody of the children. She then realized that the children had never obtained lawful immigration status in the United States. As the children were very young when they fled Haiti, they had little memory of the country and did not speak the language. Solidifying the children’s immigration status became a priority for Esther.

Esther reached out to the Central West Justice Center for help. Attorney Kelly Morgan met with the family and recommended that the children apply for a type of immigration status reserved for children in the country without parents – Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Attorney Morgan accepted their cases, and today, all three children have successfully obtained Lawful Permanent Residency. The oldest daughter is now in her first year of college and recently reflected upon what her new immigration status means to her: “To me, a green card represents security. Knowing that I’m no longer in constant danger of deportation or not being able to get a job because of my status. The green card is the key that opens all these doors. Thank you, Attorney Morgan and CWJC!”