World Indigenous People’s Day: Stories of Indigenous Clients
In honor of World Indigenous People’s Day, learn about the journeys of some of our indigenous clients who have fled persecution and violence for refuge in the United States. Their journeys to safety would not be possible without our lifesaving asylum system and the dedication of our pro bono partners who represent them.
Ms. B from Honduras
Ms. B grew up in a politically active Garifuna family in Honduras. She saw firsthand the government’s neglect and discrimination against her community. Her mother, a leader in the Garifuna movement, was briefly abducted by police, and many other activists were murdered after they resisted the seizure of Garifuna land by foreign corporations.
As a result, Ms. B and her family lived in a constant state of danger and violence perpetrated by extractive industries, land barons, local businessmen, and state officials who often have ties to corporate interests. Activists, particularly black and indigenous women, continue to face threats and violence because they defend land rights in Honduras.
In 2019, intruders approached Ms. B at her home and threatened to kill her. It was at that moment Ms. B realized that her life was in danger and decided to flee to the United States. Ms. B was granted asylum in 2022 with pro bono representation by Lowenstein Sandler LLP.
Mr. E and his family from Russia
Mr. E is a member of the Kalmyk ethnic group, who suffered mass displacement and deportation from their land during the 20th century. As a young man, Mr. E was regularly targeted by Russian nationalists due to his appearance as an ethnic minority. His professors called him racist slurs, and police frequently stopped him to demand his identification. Mr. E was also attacked by strangers leaving him with lasting injuries. After Mr. E was conscripted into the Russian military, other soldiers attacked him and called him racist slurs.
After his discharge from the military in 2012, Mr. E went into banking but was discriminated against in his workplace due to his ethnicity, and his young son was bullied because of his appearance. Mr. E began participating in peaceful rallies against the Russian government, and in 2018 was detained, interrogated, and beaten by officers who called him racist slurs. After Mr. E was arrested at another rally in 2019, he was fired from his job and blacklisted from employment in the banking sector. He received phone calls from a man who threatened to frame Mr. E on made-up charges if he continued his activism.
Mr. E and his family fled Russia in 2019 and entered the United States. With Davis, Polk & Wardell serving as pro bono counsel, Mr. E and his family were granted asylum in 2022.
Ms. H and her family from Guatemala
Ms. H, a member of the indigenous K’iche’ Maya People, fled Guatemala after suffering years of forced labor, domestic abuse, and gang violence. From age 10, Ms. H was forced to work in a hat factory seven days per week without any compensation for her work.
Ms. H fled an abusive domestic relationship in 2015 after a Guatemalan government agency set up to prevent violence against indigenous women failed to protect her. Upon moving to another area in Guatemala, members of the 18th street gang targeted Ms. H’s son because he was indigenous and openly gay. Both Ms. H and her son survived vicious attacks by gang members, which persisted even after they relocated a second time.
Ms. H and her two sons fled to the United States in 2019 in search of protection. Human Rights First represented the family in removal proceedings, and the family was granted asylum in 2022.
Ms. C and Her Children from Guatemala
Ms. C grew up in a K’iche’ Mayan village in Guatemala. Her family spoke K’iche’ and Spanish and wore the traditional dress of the K’iche’ Mayan people. Ms. C suffered discrimination as a child. Her non-indigenous teachers beat her and insulted her, and her non-indigenous classmates mocked her clothing and appearance.
In adulthood, Ms. C opened a store with her husband selling indigenous clothing as well as specialty items that were otherwise unavailable in the region. Ms. C and her husband participated in indigenous governance committees formed in the absence of Guatemalan government services. Unlike most families in their area, Ms. C made all the household decisions and was widely recognized as a leader.
In 2008, three men robbed Ms. C at gunpoint in her store. When Ms. C appeared in court to testify against the robbers, the police claimed they had lost the guns to be presented as evidence against the robbers. After the trial, the robbers and their family members came to Ms. C’s store and beat her severely, demanding she pay them a large sum of money and threatening her family. So great was the stress from the robber’s threats and extortion that Ms. C’s husband suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage. After another indigenous store owner was murdered for failure to pay his extorters, Ms. C decided to flee with her children, fearing for their own lives.
Human Rights First represented Ms. C and her children in removal proceedings, arguing that Ms. C was entitled to protection from future persecution on the basis of her identity as a K’iche’ Mayan woman and community leader. Ms. C and her children were granted withholding of removal in 2020.
