CASE: Asylum in Immigration Court
CLIENT: Syrian
LOCATION: Cleveland Immigration Court
Our Syrian clients (husband and wife) came to the United States in August 2012. They are Christians who have lived in Syria, and they came to the United States since they were in fear in Syria.
With help from their previous attorney, our clients filed their I-589 asylum application to the USCIS in November 2012. Our client was threatened and was in danger in Syria based on his religion. However, after the USCIS asylum interview, their asylum cases were referred to the Cleveland Immigration Court. A Notice to Appear was issued and our clients were placed in removal proceedings. After they got the Notice to Appear and hearing notices for their Master Calendar hearing, they contacted and retained our firm in October 2013.
Our clients were scared to go back home to Syria, fearing that they will be persecuted based on their religion. While our clients were in Syria, our clients’ family members were kidnapped. Our client also received some threats.
We supplemented the asylum applications represented them in immigration court hearings. We also asked them to provide supporting documents corroborating their claim, some of which were a letter from their family members, colleagues and friends in Syria and in the United States. Our firm also did some research on articles related to their claims, and the type of persecution they will experience in Syria if sent back.
Our clients’ individual hearing was scheduled on October 27, 2014 at the Cleveland Immigration Court. Attorney Sung Hee Yu from our firm prepared them extensively twice. He also represented our clients at their Individual Hearing.
During the hearing, our clients testified credibly as to their past persecution in Syria and likelihood of future persecution. After the hearing, the Immigration Judge granted asylum relief for our clients. They are now asylees who will get their work permits in two weeks and will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in one year.