Danger-to-Safety Relocation for DV Survivors

Paisley had been living abroad with her daughter Petal and her abusive husband for several years. Petal had been born abroad and held dual nationality, but Paisley's husband never filed the papers for Paisley's residency so she was officially undocumented. Trying to divorce abroad meant the possibility of being deported and losing all access to her daughter.

We were able to communicate to the American Embassy on Paisley's behalf and come up with options.

We were also able to get Paisley a consultation with an attorney with expertise on the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction in the state she was returning to.

Paisley gathered all of her evidence of abuse, including abuse of Petal. The European country waived any penalties for Paisley's undocumented status due to domestic violence and they were able to flee back to the USA.

Petal's father will probably file a Hague petition against Paisley, but with her evidence, and pro-bono legal representation, we are confident they will be able to stay in the USA.

Petal is very happy to be living with her grandparents, playing outside in the summer sun, and of course, loving the flowers!

Thank you for supporting this project so victims like Paisley and Petal can flee home to safety! The Pathways Team

Nora first contacted us in 2023 via our crisis email. We spent months communicating with Nora as she wanted to understand all aspects of fleeing back home to the USA for safety to escape her abusive husband in France. She wanted her daughter Liliana to grow up in France as she thought the school system was better and Liliana would grow up bi-lingual.

But Nora could no longer take the emotional abuse of her husband and his violent temper. She was torn. Should she flee back home for safety or flee and try to find safety in France?

We were able to connect Nora with English speaking services in France. We didn't hear from Nora again until earlier this year.

Nora decided that she wanted return to the USA with Liliana. We helped Nora safety plan her escape and connected her to an international family law attorney in the USA who gave her a free legal consultation including evidence of abuse she needed to gather in case her abusive husband filed a petition for the return of Liliana to France under Hague Convention on International Child Abduction and explained the defenses for battered mothers and their children.

Finally, the day came when they were able to get on a plane home while her abusive husband was in another European country on a business trip. They are temporarily staying with Nora's parents, who have a puppy that Liliana adores!

Nora has a long way to go but because of donations like yours, she and Liliana are safe and back home in the USA.

Thank you from the Pathways' Team