Written by Ariel Yu

Karim came to the U.S. from Morocco with the hope of earning a better living for himself. Like many other new immigrants, he was honest, diligent, and persevering, often working long hours on night shifts and receiving only half of the wages to which he was entitled. Nonetheless, he saw life in the U.S. as rewarding. He made numerous friends at the gas station where he worked and began saving bit by bit through his hard work. He also met the woman who would later become his wife.

Karim’s marriage was initially filled with hope. The newlyweds moved into a new house using his savings. One year later, their daughter was born, and Karim started working three jobs to better provide for his family.

However, it was around this time that he began experiencing domestic abuse. His wife would repeatedly throw his belongings outside the house, lock the door, and prevent him from talking to or hugging their daughter. He was only allowed to have a flip phone, as his wife would break his smartphone whenever she discovered he had one. Over time, the abuse became physical. Karim was often hurt so badly that he would cry, look up at the sky, and try to talk to God. Whenever he did this, he was mocked by his wife, who would say, “Oh, okay, talk to him, talk to him.” Due to the emotional and physical harm he endured, Karim developed severe depression and anxiety.

He was also thwarted in his efforts towards legal immigration status. Three years into their marriage, when Karim tried to apply for a green card as the spouse of a U.S. citizen, his wife refused to give her passport to their lawyer at the time, preventing him from successfully applying.

One hot summer day, as Karim returned home after a long day of work, eager to reunite with his daughter, he discovered that all his belongings had once again been thrown outside. This time, his wife had changed the lock, leaving him with nowhere to go. At that time, he had no Social Security number and no money. Recalling that day, Karim still cannot hold back his tears: “I had nowhere to go, I didn’t know where I was going, I couldn’t stop crying and crying.”

It was then that Karim resolved to find a lawyer who could help him. The journey, however, was far from easy. He kept calling and visiting places but was turned away—either because he was not a U.S. citizen, did not speak fluent English, or could not afford the required fees. For a year and a half, he lived in a state of depression, exhaustion, and desperation.

Eventually, Karim called Immigration Law & Justice New York (then NY JFON)  in Flushing. The Clinic Coordinator at the church quickly got in touch with him, listened to his story with empathy, and connected him with Mr. TJ Mills, ILJNY Managing Attorney, who took on his case for free. From there, Karim shared his story with TJ, sent him copies of all the materials and evidence he had gathered, and filed a self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) based on the domestic abuse he had suffered. The VAWA petition was Karim’s only chance to remain in the U.S., and male VAWA cases are especially challenging. With TJ’s help, Karim submitted numerous affidavits, including an extensive psychiatric evaluation, to establish the abuse.

The petition was successful. Karim received his work permit, then his green card, and eventually his U.S. citizenship this year on an expedited basis as the victim of a U.S. citizen spouse. “I’m in a much better place now,” Karim said. From now on, he wants to take care of his health, visit his family back in Morocco, and save more money to build a better life.

When asked about TJ, Karim could not express his appreciation enough. “I can do nothing without his help,” he said, referring to the challenge of establishing his VAWA case. “God bless him, and God bless these people in the immigration system who stay helping other people,” Karim said.

*Names have been changed in this story to protect privacy.