“I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous positive impact that American Gateways has on the immigrant community in Austin. Working on a number of asylum matters under the guidance of the American Gateways staff has been some of the most meaningful work of my professional career.”

“American Gateways is at the forefront of protecting vulnerable immigrants in Central Texas. It is a pleasure to work on pro bono cases for them and to feel supported by their expertise.”

“I was born in Durango, Mexico and moved to Texas when I was 5 years old with my mother and brother. I grew up in Eagle Pass, TX on the Texas/Mexico border with the most beautiful extended family.

There were difficult family circumstances that forced my mother to leave everything behind and raise my brother and I in the US. My mother knew very little English and had zero knowledge about the legal systems in the US. We were fortunate to have a large and loving family in Texas who helped us financially, emotionally and spiritually

We were also very fortunate to have a legal path to citizenship through my maternal grandmother. Regardless, it was a very long and expensive process. I arrived in the US at age 5 and was granted citizenship my junior year of high school at age 17.

My mother and I are no different from the women and children served by American Gateways. When I think of the sacrifice they make to leave all they know behind and come to the US I think of COURAGE. They are here to make something more for themselves and their families. They want to rewrite their stories.

There is no way my mom and I would have made it through without the support and compassion of others and I want to pay it forward. American Gateways is providing me that opportunity. Every document I translate is someone’s past being translated for their new future.”