Tumen wins his freedom

Tumen and his wife are ethnic Mongolians from Siberia. They fled life-threatening conditions in 2023 and reached the US / Mexico border during the fall of that year.

At the border, Tumen was taken into ICE custody and detained for over 17 months. Tumen’s wife found her way to the Midwest, and struggled to survive. 

CIJF hired a trusted attorney to represent him in court. Tumen won asylum and was released from detention last month. 

The photo above was taken during his first few hours of freedom in the US, shortly before he boarded a plane to be reunited with his wife!