In the spring of 2022, Claudia’s mother-in-law was killed by guerrilla terrorists in Colombia for being a feminist leader who provided information to the government and police. There is no record of her murder, and her body was never recovered. Shortly after, Claudia’s family started receiving death threats. She and her husband moved with their son to another part of Colombia, where they hoped they would be safe, but the death threats followed them.
Desperate to protect their family, they decided to cross the U.S. border through Mexico with the help of a “coyote,” someone who smuggles people across borders. After they paid him in Colombia, he wanted more money to complete the journey, so they were held hostage in Mexico for three days until their family back in Colombia sent more money. The young family almost drowned crossing the river; their son was just 6 years old at the time. Once they reached the U.S. shore, they were picked up by Immigration and taken to a detention center, where Claudia and her son were separated from her husband for a day and a half. Once they shared that they had a cousin in Aurora, CO, the family was flown to Denver to live with him. They started working in a bakery and living in the basement of a home with other refugee families until they were kicked out because too many people were living there. They found new jobs at a bakery in Louisville.
While searching for housing in Lafayette, they met a secretary at an apartment complex office who suggested the family visit Sister Carmen Community Center (SCCC) to see if we could offer any help. That’s where Claudia met SCCC Advocate Carolina for the first time and received financial assistance for a rental deposit, as well as food from our Food Bank and clothes and household goods from our Thrift Store.
A little while after the family settled in Lafayette, Claudia was overcome with intense pain and spent some time in the hospital for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney, gallbladder, and liver stones. Soon after she was discharged, a $40,000 hospital bill arrived. Having no means to pay it, Claudia once again turned to Sister Carmen for guidance.
“When I arrived, I was crying. I was stressed and worried because that’s a lot of money, and we didn’t have it,” says Claudia. “Carolina reassured me that everything would be okay. She did some research and found a hospital discount care program that covered the entire bill. She also helped register our family for health insurance to help cover future healthcare needs and bills.”
And there were more medical bills. The medication Claudia took while recovering from her illness made her so weak that she passed out one day at work. 911 was called. Per protocol, an ambulance and fire truck were dispatched. When the bills arrived for these emergency services, Carolina helped Claudia get them reduced and arranged payment plans for the remaining balances. Claudia also suffered a bout with a bacterial stomach infection. Then, there was some happy medical news—a new baby was on the way! A little girl joined their family 7 months ago.
Claudia took lactation classes at Sister Carmen to prepare for the new arrival. When her son was struggling with being in a new country and not speaking the language, Carolina helped connect him with a mental health therapist in the school system. She also helped Claudia enroll in English classes at Intercambio, and helped the family secure driver’s licenses and an ITIN, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Now, she’s helping them navigate the immigration system, referring them to legal resources as they seek political asylum and refugee status.
After leaving all of her family, especially her mother, behind in Colombia at the age of 27, Claudia is grateful to have found Sister Carmen Community Center and Carolina, in particular.
“It has been a blessing to have found this family not just because of the services they provide, but also because of the companionship and support they have given me. Carolina has helped me manage all the struggles I have faced here,” Claudia shares.
“My family hopes that we can stay here in the U.S. and give back to those who come after us, and help them the way that we have been helped.”