“My mom is a single mother and came to the United States looking for a job so that my brother and I could live in a better position. My brother and I grew up with my grandma and grandpa in a town in Veracruz, Mexico. I came to the United States when I was 9 years old, I thought that would be the last time I would see my grandparents and family. My mom and I go to the Church of the Incarnation, in my church, there is a group of people from the same community called Sin Barreras. Sin Barreras has helped my family in many ways and has also helped many other families. Fanny is one of the people in Sin Barreras that told my mom about the Special Immigrants Juveniles Program, that allows youth to get their Residence. At first, my mom did not want to start the process because she doubted what could happen. However, another sister of our church told my mom that her nephew had obtained his residency through this program and that she should begin mine. That’s how my mom encouraged herself to start the paperwork and contacted Fanny, she then contacted us with a lawyer from Poarch Law. After filling out papers, sending them by mail, and interviews with the lawyer, it was worth going back and forth. On August 9, 2018, I became a Resident of the United States. My dream was always to go to Mexico since the day I came to the United States and to see my grandparents again. I’m really thankful to God for putting Sin Barriers, Poarch Law, and my mom to turn this dream into reality. In November I went to Mexico after 6 years and saw my grandparents again. I returned with my mom to the United States safely and happy that there was no problem entering back. All this was a beautiful experience and I spend lots of happy moments with my family in Mexico. Now I know that all kinds of dreams can come true if you have God always present and to have positive thinking. I also have to be grateful to Immigration for giving me this opportunity and for opening doors for me in this country.” (Y.R.- 3/02/2019)

“As a volunteer helping immigrants practice English and study for the citizenship exam, I have learned as much as anyone. I have met people who go to work before dawn, who work twelve-hour days, who work more than one job, and who care deeply about their children’s well-being and education and want them to have good lives. I’ve met people who contribute so much to our local community and are kind and generous neighbors. It has been a privilege to work with them.” (B.B.- 1/29/2019)

2018 Annual Report: Testimonial # 1:  “Prior to getting married, we started researching the Green Card process and immediately I knew it was over our heads and we needed help.  I started researching immigration lawyers in our area, and quickly found out how expensive they were. I knew we could not realistically afford a lawyer so I continued looking for a more affordable resource [and] came across Sin Barreras …   We knew from the very beginning it was going to take a long time to get the green card, but [Sin Barreras] assured us [they] would be there every step of the way.  …  August of 2018 we finally received notice of the appointment. Having just found out I was pregnant, I was a nervous wreck and needed to feel assured that we had all the proper documents for the interview…[ Sin Barreras] eased our minds and prepared us for what to expect at the interview.  October of 2018, we finally received [my husband’s] green card. It was such a relief to finally be at the end of this journey. I have nothing but positive words to say about … our experience with Sin Barreras.  I often tell our story to our friends and not a lot of people realize the time, anguish, and anxiety that come with the immigration process. I, too, did not realize what this process entailed when we started. …  Sin Barreras made the process of dealing with USCIS more tolerable.”

2018 Annual Report Testimonial # 2:  [Translated from Spanish] “For me it has been an unforgettable experience contacting Sin Barreras; because of its personnel and dedication to people who need its assistance, I was able to obtain my goal of becoming an American citizen!  It was a stupendous impact.  Thank you for your collaboration to the Hispanic people!  All of your people are charismatic  …  It is beautiful work that you do.” 

2017 Annual Report Testimonial # 1:  “After Migration mistakenly denied my husband’s [visa] case but gave us an opportunity to appeal and we didn’t know where to go [for help], we arrived to Sin Barreras, with the help of Fanny and Frank who gave us all their assistance, even though it wasn’t easy to begin; and with their patience and dedication they knew how to carry out the case and it was a great satisfaction for us because, thanks be to God, my husband is now with us.  We thank Sin Barreras with all our heart for offering us their help and we will continue recommending them to those who need legal help.”

2017 Annual Report Testimonial # 2 [Translated from Spanish]  “I called Fanny Smedile at the Sin Barreras office to request help [with my citizenship application] and got to know Clay (Accredited Representative) who cordially helped me fill out my paperwork with all the requirements.  …  During the interview the interviewer recognized that I speak English so he said taking the English test wasn’t necessary.  …  There were 47 people who obtained citizenship that day [of swearing in.]  It was a happy time, and for that reason I thank Sin Barreras, especially Fanny and Clay, for their valuable help and I congratulate them for their excellent service.  I also want to add that one of the reasons why I hadn’t done this earlier was that I had heard that it was very expensive.  But with Sin Barreras’ help, I was able to do it.  Thank you, Sin Barreras!”

2017 Annual Report Testimonial # 3 [Translated from Spanish] “I am very thankful to God who put me in contact with Sin Barreras because they got me the lawyer whom I needed. I had a good experience with this lawyer, because he helped us and put me in contact with other people. I would count this as “10 out of 10” because he could resolve my case very quickly.  I would recommend him and thanks to Fanny for everything.  I’ve told many people this is a good lawyer.  … I recommend him 100%.  It is my first experience but I would say to others [who] don’t know what they are doing that they should contact Sin Barreras because Sin Barreras helps the community.  With words [of thanks] to the Savior:  I am very thankful for this lawyer because he helped me very quickly.”

2016 Annual Report: Testimonial 1 [Translated from Spanish]   “First I want to give thanks to God for the life-change He has given me.  Before, my life wasn’t the same: I felt I lived in a world that wasn’t mine.  Leaving the house for work, or to go shopping, or to take my daughters to school was a fear to drive without a license and a fear I felt every day.  I can only imagine what would happen to my children if one day Immigration would grab me or even just the Police.  It would break my heart and fill me with desolation to think if one day we were separated.  But now everything has changed from my life of gray to a life of color; and all thanks to Sin Barreras for its great help, thanks for its efforts and for the time it gave me.  Thanks to you I have achieved my dream to be in this country legally.   Now I can leave the house without fearing anyone, without thinking the police could take me off to jail for driving without a license.  All of this and more is a great change that has happened to my life and to my daughters.  Thanks to your grand organization, Sin Barreras, we are even better. Thank you for your help, too, to my daughter who got her Green Card and I got DACA. “

2016 Annual Report: Testimonial 2 “I am from Mexico.  I’m like every ordinary girl who has a dream of becoming a successful woman in the future.  ….  Some reasons we came to the U.S. are because we want economic opportunity, we want a better life, or some flee from danger.  Many go through a big struggle just to get here and it’s upsetting to leave family members in our homes and having to start a new life. … Sin Barreras was the best thing that has happened to me, but most of all I thank Fanny who introduced us to Sin Barreras.   Without her, we wouldn’t have known, she helped us with every step we took. “

2016 Annual Report: Testimonial 3: “Sin Barreras has helped me a lot with DACA. The people at Sin Barreras showed me all of the documents I would need … [and] helped me fill out the necessary paperwork. The lawyer that was helping me … would call me and we’d be really excited. It was great knowing that someone else was excited for me getting my work permit!  Sin Barreras is a non-profit organization, so I only needed to pay for the DACA form and a small donation for Sin Barreras. That small donation mostly paid for all the copies of the different forms they gave me. I eventually got my work permit approved. Now, I’m trying to get my driver’s license. Sin Barreras guided me to becoming a legal worker in the U.S. I am very thankful that Sin Barreras didn’t just help me obtain my work permit but they told me how to make sure I don’t lose my legal status…. “

2016 Annual Report: Testimonial 4: [Translated from Spanish] “I thank God for Sin Barreras who assisted us in making our dream and our goal come true.  And thanks to the great people who helped me and I give thanks for Fanny who recommended me to Sin Barreras [and] gave me the opportunity to get my residence ….  I am very thankful to God who helped me accomplish my dreams and to my Dad who always contributed his part and always helped me. “

Immigrant Advocacy Day 2016: “Approximately 50 community members and leaders from all over the state came together in Richmond, VA to represent and be the voice for the Latino immigrant community.  Not only were we the voice of a community asking to be recognized for its many contributions, but we were planting seeds in the hearts and minds of our representatives and of each other.  Everyone that joined us displayed the type of leadership it takes for a stronger, more just and inclusive society.  This isn’t only the story of immigrant rights; these are the beginnings and continuance of American stories.”  (E.L.)