Elias is a gay man from Brazil. He suffered bullying and harassment for being different for most of his childhood. At the age of 18, through a church program, Elias sought a sponsor to help him pay to study abroad so that he could leave Brazil. For 16 years, Elias has been studying abroad on student visas and has earned a Bachelor’s in the United States, two Master’s degrees from Austria and France, and studying and working in various other countries.

After suffering hate crimes in Brazil, Elias moved to San Francisco where he heard about NCLR and our Immigration Project. In May 2019, he had his asylum interview and two weeks later, it was granted. Elias is now settling down in the U.S.A, where he aspires to grow in his career, help others, and our country. Elias is so happy and has endlessly expressed his appreciation to NCLR Immigration Project Director Noemí Calonje and NCLR for helping him with his case.