their family lawyer fears for what might happen to them if they re denied asylum. they risk going back and meeting the fate of death. if they lose, then having to be sent back to their home country, they don t deserve that. because of the situation back home. reporter: complicating matters, cindy cannot currently file for a work permit at this stage of the process. they get by staying with family and money gifted to them by a nonprofit. reporter: still j s, she has big surprise for little alison. for now she s focussed on what s waiting for her under the christmas tree. but what she really wants to to stay.