I’m starting this fundraiser on behalf of my long-time friend.

She is one of the strongest people I know and yet, behind closed doors, she has endured something truly heartbreaking: emotional, verbal, financial, and psychological abuse.

Her abuser has repeatedly threatened her immigration status, using fear of deportation to silence and control her. He’s told her things like, “If you contact authorities, you’ll be kicked out of this country,” and “I’ll make sure you can never come back.”

Now, she’s finally found the courage to speak up and she’s fighting for her future, her safety, and her right to stay in the U.S. free from fear. But she cannot do it alone.

She is preparing to file a VAWA petition (Violence Against Women Act), a critical legal protection for survivors of abuse. She has an important immigration interview coming up and needs to retain an immigration attorney to represent her at her upcoming immigration interview and ensure she is protected from retaliation or deportation as she steps away from her abuser.

She’s found a reputable attorney willing to take her case but the retainer fee and filing costs are $5500. Every day that passes without legal support puts her in greater danger of being silenced or removed from the country she now calls home.

If you’ve ever wondered how you could make a real difference in someone’s life, this is it.

Your donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward hiring an immigration attorney who will stand beside her, help her file her VAWA petition, and attend her upcoming legal interview with her, giving her a real chance at healing and freedom.

I’ve watched my friend lose her peace, her health, her support system, and almost her sense of self. But what she hasn’t lost is her quiet courage. She’s not asking for pity, she’s asking for a chance. A chance to rebuild. A chance to feel safe. A chance to stay.

Thank you for reading, supporting, and standing with her during this incredibly vulnerable and vital moment.