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Yeni Maricela Gonzalez Garcia arrives in New York to visit her children on Monday, July 2, 2018. She was detained at the US border in May
Peter Carr, [email protected]

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Yeni Gonzalez Garcia, a Guatemalan migrant who was separated from her children more than a month ago at the border, spoke to the press at the Cayuga Center in Harlem after seeing his children on July 3, 2018. (Photo: Ricky Flores / News from the Journal) buy photo

Yeni Maricela Gonzalez Garcia, the Guatemalan woman reunited with her The children of an East Harlem facility this week, after spending a month in an Arizona immigration center, receive a free lawyer, courtesy of the State of New York.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that the state has enlisted Washington-based law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld to represent Gonzalez Garcia through the New York Liberty Defense Project.

Founded last year, the project is a first- A unique public / private partnership designed to help immigrants in the state, regardless of their status.

MEETING: A Guatemalan mother visits children

MOM: Yeni Gonzalez arrives in NY

] JOURNEY: Mom drives to NY to see children

"No parent should have to face the horror that Yeni Maricela Gonzalez Garcia endured when the federal government He detained her and took her children to the border, "Cuomo said in a statement. "In New York, we are with immigrant families and we are fighting to protect their constitutional rights and reunite parents with their children."

Gonzalez Garcia was arrested after crossing the US border in May and detained by police authorities. l & # 39; immigration. On May 21, her three children were fired and sent to the Cayuga Children's Facility in East Harlem as part of President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance policy toward children. 39; immigration.

Jose Xavier Orochena, a New York lawyer, took over the cause of Gonzalez Garcia and was able to have her released by the Eloy Detention Facility in Arizona.

Julie Schwietert Collazo, an author from Manhattan, learned of Gonzalez Garcia's existence from the difficult situation and raised money for the link and for his trip to find his children in New York. The trip was made possible by a series of volunteers who drove Gonzalez Garcia across the country in four days.

Gonzalez Garcia was able to visit his children on Tuesday morning, and will be allowed to return every day to see them until their custody status is resolved. Gonzalez Garcia and his aunt in North Carolina have asked that the children be placed at home, although the process may take two months or more.

Orochena, the lawyer who obtained the release of the Arizona Immigration Center, will work in collaboration with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, the secure company by the Liberty Defense Project.

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Yeni Maricela Gonzalez Garcia stops to meet supporters in New York on July 2, 2018. She is there to Seeing his three children for the first time since they were taken from an Arizona immigration facility six weeks ago. (Photo: Peter Carr / The News of the Journal)

Facebook: Jorge FitzGibbon Twitter: @jfitzgibbon

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