Igor's Journey

When the government officially declared that Igor’s uncle had died, leaving no remains behind, Igor believed that the truth was being covered up, but he had no way to prove it. That changed when he searched through his uncle’s belongings and discovered a flash drive containing classified military documents. Determined to uncover the truth, Igor threatened to expose the information to journalists. The response was swift and brutal: military officials warned him that if he went through with it, both he and his family would be killed. Military officers illegally searched his home, stealing all electronics, including flash drives and other digital storage devices, and took him into custody for interrogation using psychological intimidation and torture. Interrogators beat him and broke his bones in multiple locations until he lost consciousness. 
 

When Igor was released to the hospital for treatment of the injuries he had sustained in custody, he met with journalists to expose the corruption, misinformation, intimidation, and torture he had experienced. This led to a relentless campaign of abductions, death threats, beatings, and fabricated criminal charges against him. Fearing for his life and the safety of his family, he and his lawyer ultimately decided that fleeing the country was his only option.

 

After passing through five different nations, Igor and his family made it to the U.S.-Mexico border to claim asylum, which coincided with a judge in his home nation ordering an arrest warrant and his execution. Igor and his family were admitted into the U.S. as asylum seekers. Igor was able to secure an attorney for his immigration case, who referred Igor and his family to SURVIVORS. 
 

SURVIVORS enrolled Igor and his family into our care and scheduled him for a forensic evaluation to support his asylum case in addition to our full-scope behavioral health services. When Igor first came to SURVIVORS, he was struggling with severe anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain from the repeated torture he had endured. The toll of his past was overwhelming, but SURVIVORS provided him with the support and resources he needed to heal. Our clinicians worked to meet his most pressing and basic needs first, in addition to assessing his overall well-being for long-term treatment plans to help him treat and manage his physical and psychological symptoms resulting from the extreme trauma he and his family endured. Through psychiatric medication management, individual therapy, and participation in men’s therapy groups, Igor began to regain stability and strength. SURVIVORS also helped him and his family with essential services, including housing support and Medi-Cal enrollment. Igor also joined SURVIVORS’ peer support groups like Healing Club, where he and his family attend events at our offices and in the San Diego community with other survivors, providing a vital source of connection and community. 
 

With the dedicated support of SURVIVORS, Igor and his family have not only been granted asylum but also secured housing and employment so they can rebuild their lives in their new community. Today, Igor is thriving in both his educational and vocational pursuits. He obtained employment in the computer science field and is also pursuing his PhD in Data and Technology. His journey from survival to success is a testament to the power of compassionate care and resilience for the tens of thousands of survivors healing and rebuilding their lives in San Diego.