Pablo Cardenas

In 2019, Pablo Cardenas* made the dangerous journey from Guatemala to the United States alone at just 16. After a month in a Texas detention center, he was released to his sister in DC, where he began building a new life—learning English, adjusting to city life, and graduating from high school. But Pablo was uncertain about his future due to his immigration status. At 20, he feared he was already too old for protections available to immigrant youth. When he came to Legal Aid DC in 2023, he met Senior Staff Attorney Wendy Cheng, who told him about a new law—the Vulnerable Youth Guardianship Protection Act—made possible through Legal Aid’s advocacy with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). The law opened the door for Pablo to pursue Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and his was the first case of its kind in DC. With Wendy’s help, Pablo’s sister Sara became his legal guardian, and they obtained the court order needed to apply for SIJS.  Pablo was ultimately granted SIJS in October 2024. Now a new father, Pablo, has a work permit, plans to pursue higher education, and hopes to apply for permanent residency.

Read Mr. Cardenas' full story here

*Mr. Cardenas' name has been changed to protect his privacy