How to obtain Permanent Residence through mistreatment from ‘coyotes’?

The T Visa, due to being one of the humanitarian visas, can forgive things that other migratory procedures can’t, and can provide a way to obtain Permanent Residence without leaving the US despite having entered the country unlawfully, having several unlawful enters and exits, being under the permanent bar, having previous deportation and an unlawful comeback to the US, or having certain crimes in the record.

It must be considered that, in terms of migratory procedures, is recommended to keep a good moral character in the US.

The T Visa can forgive things that other migratory procedures can’t. When having entered the US and not having a US citizen or Legal Resident spouse, or an over-21 US citizen son/daughter; the T visa can be an option, since in order to be eligible, it is not necessary to have a US citizen or Legal Resident spouse, nor an over-21 US citizen son/daughter.

This visa is a self-petition and is how humanitarian visas work. It can arise the situation in which the T Visa is given due to mistreatment suffered by coyotes.

The T Visa was thought for human trafficking victims. Now, how does it work in terms of abuse suffered at the hands of coyotes?

When entered the US unlawfully with the support of coyotes, generally exists a previous agreement involving a payment in exchange for receiving help to enter the US. This is considered human trafficking.

After entering the US unlawfully is the moment when mistreatment can start and reach extreme forms.

The problem with trusting coyotes is that they don’t always keep their word. It’s a common scenario that coyotes demand more money than they were already paid using route deviations or irregularities as an excuse. It is when they exercise coercion and don’t let the immigrant be free unless he/she pays his debt, either with money or some type of work.

It can arise the scenario in which the immigrant ends up in a tiny apartment, a trailer, or a warehouse working for the coyotes. In these scenarios, coyotes tend to control immigrants, having them practically kidnapped for long time periods.

The reason why some immigrants can opt for deals with coyotes to enter the US is not to, in the future, work with them, but in search of better opportunities.

Examples of mistreatment from coyotes

Scenario #1

Luis pays $7,000 USD to a coyote so he can get help to enter the US. They enter by El Paso, Texas, and when arriving at El Paso, coyotes tell him “Luis, now you owe us $20,000 USD due to the trip being longer than expected”, to which Luis responds “I don’t have the $20,000 USD”, reason why coyotes tell him “You will have to stay working with us”, situation from which Luis can’t escape. The coyotes hold guns, are under the effect of drugs, and sexually rape women in the house where Luis is staying.

During this time, they threaten Luis with things like “If you try to escape or call someone, we’ll kill you. Here is the gun”. They beat Luis and the other people staying at the warehouse; while it can be heard how other women under coyotes’ control are being raped. Threats to Luis continue, reason for which Luis must stay at the coyotes’ warehouse, and wake up quite early in order to start cleaning, cooking, and doing all the work for the coyotes. They take Luis to a construction business and tell him “Here is the gun. You are going to work locked up in this room, and are going to spend the whole day working”.

Due to not being a situation in which Luis can say “I don’t like this job. I want to quit, I don’t want to be here. I want to be with my family, leave me alone”, Luis is under coyotes’ control and threats.

When is about women, coyotes can fall into raping, which is extremely difficult to live with.

Scenario #2

Lupita enters the US. She goes through Ciudad Juarez up to El Paso, Texas. When arriving, Lupita thinks she is free. She feels ready to go with their family members in order to start a life in the US, to which coyotes respond “Lupita, you will fall under our control and we will not let you out”.

Coyotes carry guns and sexually rape Lupita. Plus, Lupita has to work for the coyotes, and she is being forced to do this work for months. She is being forced to wake up early in order to clean, cook, and do tasks. Lupita can’t free herself from coyotes’ control. They tell her “You have to stay here in this trailer since you owe us more money. We will do whatever we want, and if you want to escape, here is the gun; we’ll kill you right away. We know where your family is, and we’ll go get it”

These situations provoke fear. It can happen that coyotes’ take off cellphones from the people under their control to eliminate any evidence and prevent them from calling 911.

Coyotes frighten with guns and the state provoked by drugs in which they tend to be while raping and hitting other women.

It’s logical to be afraid of these people and situations. These are possible scenarios that can arise when entering the US with coyotes. Each case is different.

Those who entered the country unlawfully with coyotes’ support may have suffered certain forms of mistreatment, either physical violence, deceivements, or sexual raping. This can happen during the time in which they were held captive despite the previous deal set with coyotes.

Generally, the deal consists of being taken to some city near the border and being freed so each person can take their own way, but it is not always accomplished. It can end up locked up, basically kidnapped under coyotes’ threats who force to carry out some kind of work or have sexual relations with them.

How to obtain Permanent Residence without leaving the US through labor mistreatment from coyotes?

These scenarios can give the way to obtain United States Permanent Residence through the humanitarian visa T Visa.

Again, the T Visa, one of the humanitarian visas, is noble since it can forgive unlawful entries and exits, previous deportations, and certain crimes.

It is not recommended to fall into crimes but to have a good moral character. Either way, the T Visa can forgive things that other migratory procedures can’t.

It’s important that those who went through these difficult situations know their rights and that being involved in difficult situations can give them a way to obtain Permanent Residence. Consulting with an immigration attorney can make a difference.