A cut-off finger ended her comfortable family life. Now she's hiding from US officials

Gabriela, not her real name, from Guayaquil, Ecuador, fled cartel violence with her daughter to the US, seeking asylum. Threatened by gangs, she left her comfortable life to escape extortion and violence. Facing challenges under US asylum law, she is one of many Latin Americans waiting for relief, while the legal system remains complex and asylum claims are increasingly scrutinized.