Xiao Jie came to the United States from China for educational opportunities. His parents had sent him abroad with hopes that he would receive a better education and build a successful future. However, family circumstances back in China would soon leave him stranded and alone.
While Xiao Jie was studying in America, his parents divorced in China. His father remarried and started a new family, essentially abandoning Xiao Jie both emotionally and financially. Suddenly, the young student found himself without support in a foreign country, with no way to pay for school or living expenses.
Xiao Jie faced the challenge of surviving on his own as a teenager in America. He moved in with his mother's friend, who provided shelter but couldn't fully support him financially. He took on part-time work while trying to continue his education, balancing survival with his dreams of academic success.
Susan Qin Law took on Xiao Jie's case, recognizing that his father's abandonment qualified him for SIJS. The legal team documented the lack of financial and emotional support from his father and established that returning to China was not in Xiao Jie's best interest given the family situation there.
In 2017, Xiao Jie became a permanent resident of the United States. The approval validated his struggle and gave him the security to fully pursue his education and career goals without fear of deportation.
Today, Xiao Jie has built a life in America that his parents originally dreamed of for him - though not in the way anyone expected. He has completed his education and is working in his chosen field. He has found a new family in America among friends and mentors who supported him through difficult times.
"Xiao Jie says: 'I found a new family in America. When your biological family fails you, you can build a chosen family who will support you.'"
"My father abandoned me, but America adopted me."
"Education was my lifeline when everything else fell apart."