LGBTQIA+ Rights Defense
LGBTQIA+ Rights Defense
Securing Asylum for LGBTQIA+ Immigrants Under Threat
Securing Asylum for LGBTQIA+ Immigrants Under Threat
Thanks to representation by Jin Kim (now an assistant U.S. attorney), a Caribbean man who was brutally attacked by police in his home country and subjected to death threats because of his sexual orientation was granted asylum by an immigration judge in New York.
Jin’s client spent more than a decade under the cloud of removal proceedings, even though he was a contributing, law-abiding resident. After an hour-long virtual hearing, the court granted Jin’s client asylum.
Jin began this pro bono representation less than two decades after his own family’s arrival in the U.S. from Korea. Their green card process was delayed, and their movement restricted, due to the post-9/11 political climate, an experience that made a big impression on him. While at DWT, Jin devoted more than 100 pro bono hours to the case.
“I’m deeply gratified to see my client relieved of the fear of being returned to a hostile home country,” said Jin. “We lawyers always need days like this to continue what we do.”
I’m deeply gratified to see my client relieved of the fear of being returned to a hostile home country. We lawyers always need days like this to continue what we do.
Jin Kim | Former associate
This could not have turned out any better. The judge mentioned how appreciative she was that we had put so much time and effort into the papers.
Marissa Franco | Associate
Marissa Franco, Cydney Swofford Freeman, and Joanmanuel Comas secured asylum for a young LBGTQIA+ woman who fled to the U.S. after suffering harassment from her neighbors, community, and police in her home country of Venezuela.
Aided by Marissa’s fluent Spanish, our team developed a compelling and successful petition on behalf of the client, including a “country conditions” report about Venezuela that affirmed the danger to our client if she were forced to go back. The judge granted our team’s petition even before the merits hearing got underway.
“This could not have turned out any better,” said Marissa. “The judge mentioned how appreciative she was that we had put so much time and effort into the papers.”
Marissa Franco, Cydney Swofford Freeman, and Joanmanuel Comas secured asylum for a young LBGTQIA+ woman who fled to the U.S. after suffering harassment from her neighbors, community, and police in her home country of Venezuela.
Aided by Marissa’s fluent Spanish, our team developed a compelling and successful petition on behalf of the client, including a “country conditions” report about Venezuela that affirmed the danger to our client if she were forced to go back. The judge granted our team’s petition even before the merits hearing got underway.
“This could not have turned out any better,” said Marissa. “The judge mentioned how appreciative she was that we had put so much time and effort into the papers.”
This could not have turned out any better. The judge mentioned how appreciative she was that we had put so much time and effort into the papers.
Marissa Franco | Associate
Both of these matters came to the firm from Human Rights First.
Helping Transgender People Affirm Their Identities
In partnership with the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund in New York and Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) in Seattle, our team devoted more than 120 hours to helping transgender clients legally change their names.
One of the more complex petitions was handled by DWT’s Faith Cody in collaboration with in-house counsel at Microsoft. LCYC praised the volunteers for “resourcefully navigating the obstacles” to a successful outcome. “This success is not just a win for our very happy client,” said Lu Jiang, pro bono manager at LCYC, “but also a valuable learning experience that will enhance LCYC’s procedural guidelines for the King County downtown courthouse, aiding future volunteers.”
This success is not just a win for our very happy client, but also a valuable learning experience that will enhance LCYC’s procedural guidelines for the King County downtown courthouse, aiding future volunteers.
Lu Jiang | Pro bono manager, LCYC
Helping Transgender People Affirm Their Identities
In partnership with the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund in New York and Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC) in Seattle, our team devoted more than 120 hours to helping transgender clients legally change their names.
One of the more complex petitions was handled by DWT’s Faith Cody in collaboration with in-house counsel at Microsoft. LCYC praised the volunteers for “resourcefully navigating the obstacles” to a successful outcome. “This success is not just a win for our very happy client,” said Lu Jiang, pro bono manager at LCYC, “but also a valuable learning experience that will enhance LCYC’s procedural guidelines for the King County downtown courthouse, aiding future volunteers.”
This success is not just a win for our very happy client, but also a valuable learning experience that will enhance LCYC’s procedural guidelines for the King County downtown courthouse, aiding future volunteers.
Lu Jiang | Pro bono manager, LCYC
Team: Faith Cody, Jonathan A. Namazi, Michael Leone Lynch, Rodrigo Tranamil, Lindsey Krause, Erik Mass, Tyler Maffia, Sharon O’Shaughnessy, Sean Zeyou Dong, Hannah P. Fenley, Nic Doherty, Megan Raymond, Ken Payson, Lukas C. Dudkowski, Barry A. Stulberg, and Lauren B. Rainwater.
Team: Faith Cody, Jonathan A. Namazi, Michael Leone Lynch, Rodrigo Tranamil, Lindsey Krause, Erik Mass, Tyler Maffia, Sharon O’Shaughnessy, Sean Zeyou Dong, Hannah P. Fenley, Nic Doherty, Megan Raymond, Ken Payson, Lukas C. Dudkowski, Barry A. Stulberg, and Lauren B. Rainwater.
Voting Rights Protection
ALS Focus
ALS Focus
Voting Rights Protection
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP
Ability, integrity, and service to others – these are the three pillars on which Davis Wright Tremaine was built. As our founding partner once famously said, “…unless we are serving mankind to the top extent of our ability and putting our best talent into that service, what good is life?”
Learn More at DWT.COM/PRO-BONO
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP
Ability, integrity, and service to others – these are the three pillars on which Davis Wright Tremaine was built. As our founding partner once famously said, “…unless we are serving mankind to the top extent of our ability and putting our best talent into that service, what good is life?”
Learn More at DWT.COM/PRO-BONO
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