Vicky’s journey with NCLR is a journey that spans 11 years. In 2003 Vicky came to the U.S. seeking asylum from Mexico. She had lived through abuse and violence because of her gender identity and sexual orientation in her home country. In the U.S., Vicky was working as a farm laborer, where she again faced severe anti-LGBTQ harassment.

NCLR has stood beside her in every step of the way, first securing her asylum status in June 2006, and then achieving positive changes in her workplace soon after. Finally, we helped her gain permanent residency in 2009. But we didn’t stop there, and late in 2014, with NCLR’s help, her petition for citizenship was granted and her nightmare finally came to an end. Vicky became a U.S. citizen in January 2015.

Vicky is only one of the hundreds of LGBTQ immigrants that turn to NCLR desperate for help each year.