Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service

Amanda, a 15-year-old girl from Central America, received an invitation to come work at a restaurant in a U.S. city. Excited by the prospect of improving their financial situation, Amanda and her parents agreed that she should go. But when she got here, her “employers” held her hostage and told her she would have to work as a masseuse and provide sexual favors for clients.

For her protection Amanda’s name has been changed, but her story is typical of children who come to the United States without guardians and without documentation. They come for a variety of reasons: Some are seeking to reunite with family members or pursue educational or employment opportunities. Others are fleeing family abuse, persecution or gang violence. And, tragically, some are brought here by traffickers seeking to exploit them for commercial sex work, domestic servitude or other forced labor.

Amanda’s story has a happy ending. Remarkably, she was able to borrow a cell phone and call her mother. Authorities acted quickly, tracing the call and rescuing her within days. She was placed in U.S. custody, and referred to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service for services. An LIRS field staff member connected Amanda with legal, educational and mental health services and placed her in a loving foster home. Through a special visa available for trafficking victims, Amanda is now free to stay in the United States, and with the help of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service she is enjoying the life of a normal teenage girl.