Alicia* fled to the United States to claim asylum and gain protection from the dangers of her life in El Salvador. She lives with her aunt, Silvia, who had been employed cleaning buildings until an inspection revealed her undocumented status.

Silvia is working toward finding a job cleaning houses, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people are comfortable with people they do not know entering their homes, rendering the job search fraught with difficulty. Silvia is also working to keep food on the table and a roof over the heads of her three young daughters.

Being undocumented, Alicia and Silvia find themselves living in the shadows, unable to work legally nor claim relief such as unemployment or governmental pandemic support.

Having already completed a year of technical nursing training in El Salvador, Alicia is working with HIAS PA lawyers and case managers to claim asylum so that she can continue her studies and work legally.

Alicia and Silvia needed money to help pay for rent and keep themselves out of freefall during these truly uncertain times. Because of donors like you, they are fed and housed.