Shortly after Sam arrived in this country, seeking asylum to escape threats to his life in India, he was robbed, beaten and left unconscious on the side of the road. He suffered severe head trauma, including a fracture and a concussion. He immediately reported the crime, and a Kern County Sheriff’s deputy visited him in the hospital. He answered the deputy’s questions and cooperated fully. Although Sam met the legal requirements for a U-visa certification, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood refused his request. That certification is needed to apply for a U-visa from the federal government.
By Katie Traverso