Jamilah: Starting a New School Year in Safety

For Jamilah*, this school year begins in a very different place.

This time last year, the 15-year-old was living with extended family in Pakistan and facing a very uncertain future. Her parents were already in the United States—the family had been separated due to delays in immigration processing—and were desperate to bring her to safety with them.

Her older brother, a U.S. citizen, had helped their parents navigate their immigration journey, and now, he was doing everything he could to help his sister. He filed a request for humanitarian parole to bring Jamilah to the U.S., but the process was complex and moving far too slowly for the urgency of her situation.

Our Immigration Legal Services team was brought on to help this family bring their daughter to safety. We pushed for expedited processing of Jamilah’s case, working closely with immigration agencies and seeking help from congressional offices. Thanks to a coordinated effort and tireless advocacy, Jamilah arrived safely in the U.S. in January 2025—just days before new travel bans and policies would have made that nearly impossible.

Today, Jamilah is enrolled in high school, living with her family, and finally able to start building a future in safety. Our legal services team has assisted her in applying for longer-term protection that, if granted, will allow her to seek a green card. As her case progresses, we enjoy receiving updates from her family on her amazing progress in school.

“I am in awe of Jamilah’s courage and resilience throughout this process. As a mother of a child almost the same age, I can only imagine the stress and anxiety that Jamilah's mother endured during the long months of separation from her only daughter,” said Jill Marie Bussey, Global Refuge Director for Legal Affairs. “These cases can be very intense and stressful at times, but it is all worth it when young girls are valued, protected, and can come to a place of safety with their family and have a chance at reaching their full potential.”

*Name has been changed for client's protection.