Jimena envisioned a bright future in the United States, full of job opportunities and the chance to raise a family. This dream led her to leave Colombia to be with her U.S. citizen husband and start anew. Their plan was to stay with her husband’s family for a few months to save money while waiting for her work permit. Although Jimena knew this would be a significant change, leaving behind family, friends, and a job she loved, she hoped for a better life for herself, her husband, and their future children. 

However, shortly after moving, her husband changed, he was not the man she knew in Colombia, and he began to emotionally and verbally abuse her. He demanded she stay home and clean the house, limited her contact and controlled what she told her family. He also isolated her from any of her new friends she had made at church or the neighborhood. When Jimena asked for updates about her work permit, her husband evaded her questions, leaving her in the dark about her immigration status and her rights in the U.S. 

Jimena tried to discuss the situation with her husband’s family, but they defended his abusive behavior and imposed additional demands on her to manage the household chores. When the abuse escalated to physical violence, she could no longer endure living in this situation, this was not what she thought her life would be like when she left everything behind, and she bravely reached out to Radiant Futures. 

Jimena came into our Safety Net program, and we were able to assist her with housing, individual and group counseling, and legal assistance. Through our legal advocates, she received application assistance for the California Victim Compensation Board, enrollment into the Safe at Home program, a referral to Legal Aide for support with her immigration case under Violence Against Women Act, and assistance with filing a restraining order. Through Radiant Futures Legal Department’s new partnership with University of California, Irvine Law School, Jimena was able to work with a law student to write up a detailed and thorough declaration to attach to her restraining order request. She was also provided with a referral to Public Law Center, and through them, was able to secure the representation of a volunteer attorney who was willing to take on her restraining order case at no cost. 

Jimena’s Radiant Futures legal advocate accompanied her to the hearing for emotional support. Her volunteer attorney proved invaluable when the opposing party arrived with two hired attorneys. Despite the challenges, her attorney secured a favorable outcome: a one-year temporary restraining order and a monthly spousal support payment, enhancing her physical and emotional safety and providing her with basic financial security while her work permit remains pending. Jimena is looking forward to starting the dream life she always envisioned of having in the United States. 

If you’d like more information about our legal program, or any of our other services, please visit our website at www.radiantfutures.org, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, email us at love@radiantfutures.org, or call our 24-hour helpline at 877-531-5522.