08/03/18: Valquiria has lost the appeal of her rejected asylum claim. She now has to chose whether to file another appeal, and faces months stuck in detention. We're ramping up the pressure on the American authorities to release her and reunite her with her family. Please take action at this critical time.

After receiving death threats, Valquiria needed somewhere safe to go. She fled with her seven-year-old son Abel* to the US border, seeking asylum. But for seven months now, the US authorities have imprisoned her and separated her from Abel.

In her home country of Brazil, Valquiria had received death threats from drug traffickers. They said they would kill her and her son, no matter where they fled to in Brazil.

But when Valquiria and Abel sought asylum at the US border, the US authorities forcibly separated them and continue to imprison Valquiria while she waits for a decision on her asylum claim.

When we interviewed Valquiria, she wept as she recounted the moment US authorities separated her from Abel. She told us how the separation from her son had lessened her will to live.

Abel is now staying with his father, who is in the US as he pursues a separate asylum claim. Abel often stares at the door, waiting for his mother to come home.

Valquiria shouldn’t be behind bars and separated from her child. People seeking safety need justice and safety, not further anguish.

Act now  – tell US immigration authorities to immediately free Valquiria while she pursues her asylum claim.

*Name changed