Hello, my name is Grecia, and I am organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Jasmine and Mateo. Below, Jasmine has written their story.

My name is Jasmine and my partner, Mateo, and I are rebuilding our lives in Bogotá, Colombia after an unexpected immigration denial forced us to leave the United States. We’re asking for help with the basic costs of starting over safely.

Mateo and I have a unique story. He’s the cousin of my best friend in high school, and I first heard about him when I was 15 years old. It wasn’t until years later that we connected through social media, and what began as friendship grew into something neither of us expected. When we finally met in person, we knew this was one of those rare, once-in-a-lifetime connections and we fell in love.

When we met, I was born, raised, and living in Utah, while Mateo was born, raised, and living in Bogotá. Despite the distance between us, we decided to build a life together in the United States. We understood that it would be challenging but we both believed in the American Dream.

So, Mateo left his life in Bogotá behind and in 2023, he applied for his green card. We knew the immigration process would take time, but we were shocked at how difficult it would be and uncertain it would become. We waited for next steps, including his work permit, but it never arrived. We contacted U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services multiple times and were told only to keep waiting.

After two years with no progress, our savings were gone. Without a work permit, Mateo couldn’t find employment. So in 2025, we made the difficult decision to move from Utah to South Carolina to live with family and reduce our expenses while we continued waiting.

Later that year, we received devastating news: Mateo’s green card application was denied. We met with an immigration attorney, hoping for clarity. Unfortunately, we were given no clear explanation for the denial. Our options were to begin the expensive process over again or leave the country.

By this time, it was clear that remaining in the U.S. was unsafe. We had heard the horror stories of violent detention and deportations without trial - and often not even to the country of origin. After long and painful conversations, we made the difficult decision to relocate to Bogotá together.

This was not the life we had planned, but it is the one we must now rebuild.

It took everything we had to get to Colombia and we are seeking to raise $18,300 to help us start over. Here is how these funds will be used:

Your support will help us move out of debt, fear, uncertainty, and hopelessness and into a stable beginning. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us rebuild safely and responsibly.

If you are unable to donate, sharing our story would mean just as much.

Thank you for being a part of our next chapter!

With gratitude,

Jasmine and Mateo