CASE: Asylum in Immigration Court
CLIENT: Jamaican
LOCATION: New Orleans Immigration Court
Our Jamaican client came to the United States on a B-2 visa in September 2013. He was persecuted in Jamaica, and was scared to go back home to Jamaica, fearing that he will be persecuted on account of his social group. Thus, within one year of his entry, he filed an asylum application (Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and relief under the CAT) to the USCIS with our office’s legal assistance. He was interviewed at the Asylum Office in Lyndhurst, NJ in May 2014, but his case was referred to an immigration judge. The Notice to Appear was issued and our client was placed in removal proceedings.
After the case was referred to the Immigration Court, our client retained our office again. His court case originated at the Philadelphia Immigration Court, but after he moved to Louisiana, the venue was changed to the New Orleans Immigration Court.
We helped him prepare his asylum application, going over several drafts until his claim was as detailed as possible. Names, addresses, dates, and all possible issues relevant to his asylum claim were addressed. We also asked him to provide supporting documents corroborating his claim, some of which were letters from Jamaica and friends in the U.S. who were part of his social group. Our firm also did some research on articles pertaining to his particular claim, and the type of persecution that members of his social group suffer in Jamaica.
Our client’s individual hearing was scheduled on February 6, 2017, at the New Orleans Immigration Court. Partner and Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu represented our client at the hearing. During the hearing, our client testified credibly as to his past persecution in Jamaica and likelihood of future persecution. On February 24, 2017, the Immigration Judge issued a written decision and granted asylum relief for our client. He is now an asylee who will get his work permit soon and will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in one year.