NBC News published an article about Tahirih Atlanta client, Vilma, a mother who has been separated from her 11 year-old daughter for seven months after fleeing her native country of Guatemala to escape domestic violence.
“He punched out her four front teeth in front of their daughter,” said Shana Tabak, Tahirih Atlanta Executive Director. “It was just terrible physical violence, at which point she decided to leave.”
Vilma and her daughter arrived in the U.S. during the implementation of the “zero-tolerance” policy, and during the family separation crisis.
“I never thought this would happen until they took her from me,” said Vilma. “It is because of the fear that we came here, not by choice.”
