Student Spotlight: Ysmael Fonseca '09
I always wanted to be a lawyer, but I could never say why. That changed after meeting men and women who, in search of a better life, had become victims of human trafficking.
I worked for two years in the Department of Justice helping with the prosecution of human traffickers. Initially, I took the job because of the opportunity to travel across the country to help with investigations and trials, and to take an active role in the legal system. Much to my surprise, the best part of the job had nothing to do with those reasons; I benefitted the most from meeting the victims of human trafficking, hearing their stories, and helping coordinate their stay in the United States.
For me, slavery was something out of a history textbook. I never imagined that it remained a reality for many people living in the United States and around the world. The silent terror in which they lived cried out for a greater effort to bring about justice, and I was glad I could take a part in that effort. In my time at the Department of Justice, I saw several of these victims comforted when their traffickers were sent to jail, and overjoyed at learning that the American Dream—once so elusive—could be realized.
My work gave me a unique opportunity to see how the criminal justice system operated, but most importantly, how much the system needed people interested in helping victims of such heinous crimes. Up until that time, justice was an abstract notion—something my faith required that I work diligently to achieve—but I had never known injustice, or known exactly how a single individual could help achieve such noble goal. That changed when I saw the tragedy and sorrow of the victims of modern-day slavery; at that time I knew that my interest in the law could have a purpose in giving a voice to silent victims.
For more information about Ysmael, visit his student profile.
