After both her parents and little sister got deported, Jennifer Galdames, 17, is planning to stay in the United States. Last October, authorities arrested Galdames’ parents while they dropped her sister off at school.
Her stepfather got deported to Mexico and immigration officials gave her mother the opportunity to return to Guatemala with Jennifer’s 8-year-old sister voluntarily. The teenager sought Special Immigrant Juvenile Status to apply for legal residency.
Her mother initially meant to send her to a relative in New Jersey, but Jennifer wanted to stay in Iowa. After hearing of her plight, the Ahart family, a newlywed couple with a 6-year-old son, welcomed Galdames into their home.
“[We] have too much love to keep to ourselves,” they stated in an interview. Jennifer’s mother contacted Jami Bassman Ahart – wife of Iowa’s largest school district’s superintendent, Tom Ahart – through a mutual acquaintance.
After finding out Jennifer did not want to move to New Jersey, Jami spoke to her husband, who agreed to take the high-schooler into their home. Jami also helped the Galdames family contact the jail where Jennifer’s stepfather got taken into custody.
The Aharts signed and notarized the temporary legal guardian papers with Jennifer’s mother. They also contacted a pro-bono immigration lawyer to work on Jennifer’s residence status.
Jennifer fled Guatemala after her biological father got murdered. She crossed the border in 2014 with a smuggler her mother arranged. She was caught by border officials in Texas, bailed out by her mother, and then traveled by bus to Iowa.
Even if her parents can’t pursue legal status, the teen can file for a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status with U.S. Customs. If a judge determines that returning to a country of origin is not in the child’s best interest, the status is approved.
Even if it’s approved, she must then wait five years before applying for citizenship. She is currently not eligible to work or get a driver’s license.
Tom Ahart says he wants Jennifer to have the same opportunities as his son. The Aharts have given the young teen a phone to contact her mother. They’ve also started an online fundraiser to help with her college savings. It’s currently halfway to its $10,000 goal.
This article was inspired by Des Moines Register // A teen was caught in immigration limbo. So Des Moines schools’ superintendent and his wife sheltered a stranger.