Mei Ling grew up in Taiwan in a home controlled by her father's emotional abuse. He was manipulative and controlling, creating an environment of fear and anxiety. Her parents' marriage was troubled, and Mei Ling often found herself caught in the middle of their conflicts.
When Mei Ling was 10, her parents separated, and her mother made the decision to bring her to America. They settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, far from her father's control. For Mei Ling, America represented freedom from the emotional prison of her childhood home.
Emotional abuse leaves scars that aren't visible but are just as real as physical wounds. Mei Ling struggled with anxiety and self-doubt, legacies of her father's treatment. She had to learn to trust adults again and believe in her own worth.
The UC Davis Immigration Law Center took on Mei Ling's case as part of their pro bono program. They helped her obtain SIJ findings from family court, documenting her father's emotional abuse and the determination that reunification was not in her best interest. Her SIJS petition has been filed and is currently pending.
Mei Ling has obtained her SIJ findings and her petition is filed. She is waiting for USCIS to process her case. While the wait is difficult, she is hopeful that approval will come soon.
Mei Ling excels in school in the Bay Area, channeling her experiences into academic achievement. She dreams of becoming a lawyer so she can help other immigrant youth navigate the system that is helping her. Education has become her path to healing and purpose.
"Mei Ling says: 'Education opened doors for me. Now I want to become a lawyer to help other immigrant youth.'"
"My father tried to control my mind. Now I'm free to think for myself."
"I want to be the advocate I needed as a child."