The shadow of undocumented status

At age eight, Lucia came to the United States with her parents from El Salvador during the height of civil unrest. Her family was granted temporary refugee status and settled in rural Texas. Her father, who had been a doctor in his homeland, took a job as a lab assistant while her mother stayed home caring for Lucia and her younger brother and sister, who were born after the family had immigrated. After an initial period of transition, quiet and studious Lucia began to thrive in school. She loved science and set her heart on becoming a doctor so she could “help people." Her parents petitioned for asylum with an attorney they had seen advertised on a local billboard, but he absconded with their fees, so their file went to the end of the queue. Lucia graduated as valedictorian of her high school and was accepted with scholarships by several colleges. Shortly after turning 18, she accompanied her parents for a hearing at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services offices, where she served as the translator. At that time she learned the good news-her parents had been granted asylum. Lamentably, however, she was also told that since she was now an adult, she would not be covered by the asylum application-deportation proceedings would begin shortly.