Aisha grew up in Malaysia in a household marked by violence. Her father was physically and verbally abusive to both Aisha and her mother. The abuse was relentless, creating an environment of constant fear and trauma.
When Aisha was 11, her mother found the courage to escape. They fled Malaysia and came to California, leaving behind everything they knew to find safety. For Aisha, the journey to America was a journey toward healing.
Survivors of domestic violence carry their trauma with them, even after escaping the abuser. Aisha struggled with nightmares, anxiety, and the fear that her father might somehow find them. Building a new life meant rebuilding her sense of safety and trust.
A pro bono attorney recognized Aisha's eligibility for SIJS based on her father's abuse. They helped her obtain SIJ findings from family court, documenting the violence she had suffered and the determination that reunification with her father was not viable or in her best interest.
Aisha has obtained her SIJ findings and is now waiting for a visa to become available. The visa backlog means she may wait years for her green card, but she has protection in the meantime.
Aisha is healing and growing in California. She attends school and is beginning to dream about her future. She wants to work in healthcare, inspired by the care she received from people who helped her family escape abuse.
"Aisha says: 'I want to take care of others the way people here took care of me.'"
"My mother's courage saved both our lives."
"I'm learning that I deserve to be treated with kindness."