Hello, I created this GoFundMe for my girlfriend, Aling Zeledon who is seeking safety and protection in the United States. She is a kind human whose strength, kindness, and resilience continue to inspire everyone who knows her.

Aling grew up in Nicaragua with her mother and three brothers. From a young age, she endured unimaginable pain. For five years, she suffered sexual abuse from someone close to her family. On top of that trauma, she was judged and discriminated against for her sexuality, not only by her abuser, but by people in her own community. She carried this pain silently, trying to survive in an environment where she never felt safe or accepted.

Education became her only hope for escape. She was able to attend college believing it could lead her to a safer future. But just after a year and a half, her dream was shattered when her mother could no longer afford to support her. That meant returning to the same home where her abuser lived, a reality she simply could not face.

At just 18 years old, Aling made the heartbreaking decision to leave everything she knew behind and travel alone to the United States in search of safety and healing. She left her family, her country, and her childhood behind. Carrying nothing but courage and the hope for a better life.

After arriving in Indiana, the people who promised to help her abandoned her. She was left without money, support, English skills, or knowledge of the system, and was taken advantage of instead of protected.

After 2 years in Indiana, she decided to leave to come to Minnesota to find better opportunities in a city known for its diverse communities and friendly social attitudes. Unfortunately, Minnesota has had an increase in ICE operations creating a hostile environment for immigrants and refugees, like Aling. With that, she continued to go to work and has been scared to go out and live a normal life in fear that she’ll be taken. For years, she has been surviving, healing, and fighting to rebuild her life despite everything she has endured.

Now, Aling finally has a chance to fight for her future. She has the opportunity to seek asylum through an official interview, a critical step toward gaining safety, stability, and the life she deserves.

Your support could help change her life. Any donation, no matter how small, will help her continue this fight for protection, justice, and peace. If you’re unable to donate, sharing her story still makes a huge difference.

Thank you for your support.