Delaware is the first state to ban marriage under the age of 18. The New York Times spoke to the Tahirih Justice Center’s Senior Counsel for Policy and Strategy, Jeanne Smoot, about the momentum nationwide in addressing laws that allow child marriage to happen in the United States.
“States are realizing that so long as laws remain on their books that may actually facilitate the forced marriage of a child, they need to consider themselves accountable.’’ said Smoot.
I came to the U.S. in the winter of 2006. Life back home in Mexico was tough for me and my family. I dreamt of going to college and graduating but with my family’s economic status, that dream was too costly and impossible.
At least I was able to graduate high school and that is something I am proud of since I was also working at the time to help my family. I was always looking for an opportunity to have a better life as a young woman.
“I hope my story is helpful to someone else…and can inspire many women to be stronger. We need to help young women identify toxic relationships, so that there are fewer Camilas that go through such difficult things, let alone have our children suffer.”
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