Sophia's story

Sophia lived every day in fear of her ruthlessly
abusive husband.

She could not predict what provoked his vicious beatings that often landed her in the hospital. She was even more terrified that he would do the unthinkable—take away their 3-year-old daughter, Rosa. Moreover, he broke his promise to sponsor Sophia’s application for a green card, and constantly threatened to have her deported back to Colombia, never to see Rosa again.

One morning, Sophia decided she had had enough and fled with Rosa to a battered women’s shelter, where a case worker connected Sophia with inMotion.

Guided by inMotion’s experienced staff attorneys, the team of pro bono lawyers who represented Sophia fought hard to secure safety and security for her and her daughter. With money borrowed from his family, Sophia’s husband hired a lawyer to contest her case.Without inMotion and her volunteer attorneys, odds are that Sophia would not have prevailed, as she did. Her inMotion legal team settled her divorce granting her sole custody of Rosa and helped her obtain legal residency.

Today, Sophia has her green card, a stable job and an apartment in a safe neighborhood. Rosa started first grade in September. Sophia is the proudest parent in the class.

• Women living in poverty experience significantly higher rates of domestic violence.
    

• More than 80% of low-income people in New York State have no access to a lawyer when they need one.
   

• There are fewer than 200 attorneys at legal services agencies in New York City offering free legal help on family and immigration matters.