December 2011, Kathy Murray, Paul Hastings LLP, Helping a Boy Find Safety and Security

What would make a child risk his life by embarking upon a dangerous journey to another country? For Mario*, the reason was simple - to finally be safe.

Mario, a boy from a small city in Michoacán, Mexico, was 15 years old when he migrated alone to the United States to escape abuse, abandonment, and neglect. Mario was apprehended upon crossing into the United States by U.S. Border Patrol and put into deportation proceedings.

Mario was raised in a violent household. Consumed by alcohol, Mario's father terrorized the family with verbal and physical abuse. Mario's parents separated when he was a young child.  Though the abuse ended, it was only replaced by the torment caused by his mother's neglect after she met her boyfriend.  Although she physically remained in the household, Mario's mother no longer provided for him.  Instead, she expected Mario to work to support her and her boyfriend. One day, Mario's mother told Mario that he could not live with her anymore.  Mario never had the opportunity to attend school; as a result, Mario was illiterate in Spanish, and job prospects were few.

Faced with living on the street, Mario stayed with one of his older brothers until his brother married and no longer had room to accommodate Mario. With nowhere to live and finding life on the streets dangerous and difficult, Mario decided to come to the United States in hopes of finding safety and protection.

Because he had no one to care for him in the United States while awaiting the outcome of his immigration proceedings, Mario was put into the custody of Orange County Crittenton Services for Children and Families, a California state foster home that hosts children removed from their families due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect.

Mario's placement in Crittenton ultimately altered the course of his life. He finally was in a safe environment, provided with basic necessities such as food and shelter, and given opportunities for learning and growth; he began learning to read and write.

But the good turn of events in Mario's life did not end with having access to education for the first time. When KIND placed Mario's case with attorneys at the Los Angeles office of the Paul Hastings law firm, Mario also had access to representation.  It was due to his attorneys' efforts - including KIND Board Member Jamie Broder and litigation associate Kathy Murray (photo above) - that Mario was able to present a viable claim for U.S. protection.

Paul Hastings has been a formidable partner with KIND since its inception in 2009.  In fact, Paul Hastings was one of the first firms to take a KIND case, and Mario's was one of the first four cases the firm took on. The Paul Hastings team worked on an innovative strategy in Mario's case for immigration relief based on his abuse, abandonment, and neglect. As Mario had no guardian to be appointed in his case - he had no family or others in the United States who could take on this role - the Paul Hastings team fought in probate court to get Crittenton appointed as his guardian - the first time that an institution in Orange County had ever been appointed as a guardian.

After Crittenton was named as Mario's guardian, his lawyers were able to successfully get his petition for special immigrant juvenile status approved -- one month before his 18^th birthday, which is noteworthy because had they not succeeded, Mario would have been ineligible for SIJS.

Kathy Murray and her team displayed impressive persistence and dedication to Mario and his case -- one inquiry, interview, and motion at a time.  Kathy's fluency in Spanish was critical in communicating with Mario since he was unable to read or write in both English and Spanish.

In addition, Kathy developed a rapport with Mario.  "Having been born in Peru, I am familiar with the difficulties faced by many immigrants as they try to navigate the customs and laws of the United States," Kathy said. "This experience provided me with a unique perspective as I built trust with Mario."

Each step taken by Mario's pro bono lawyers added up to his big win.  Last month, Mario became a legal permanent resident.  His English has improved.  He is currently attending community college.

Mario has finally received the protection, safety, and security that were missing from his life.  He has the opportunity to make a new, happier beginning in a country that he now considers home.

"There is a lot that an individual can do with a law degree," Kathy said.  "I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to use mine to improve the life of another person."

Many thanks to Kathy Murray and her team members at Paul Hastings, for their skill, diligence, and passion that went a long way towards ensuring that Mario would have the chance to enjoy a future he never dreamed possible.

*Name changed to protect client's identity