Immigration Relief for Malik Jarno (H.R. 2040)
Immigration representation and advocacy for mentally-retarded teenage orphan from Guinea.
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent, Paul Kiernan, Gretchen Nagy, Zachary Potter, Robert Bradner, Rich Gold, William S. Sessions, Janet Studley, Michael Galano, Beth Viola, Stephanie Bagot
Co-Counsel
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Description
The firm marshaled civil rights claims against immigration authorities and jail officials for abuse against Mr. Jarno in jail, which failed. The firm conducted a fact-finding mission to Guinea to gather evidence for Mr. Jarno's asylum claim. More than 70 members of Congress, numerous public interest organizations, the general public and the international media responded to his plight. Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced private legislation for Mr. Jarno in the 108th and 109th sessions of Congress. In 2006, his asylum claim was remanded by the Board of Immigration Appeals for a third round of proceedings based on previously unavailable evidence.
Status
On October 22, 2007, in a 24-page decision, the immigration judge concluded that Malij had met his burden of proof for asylum eligibility based on the plethora of credible lay and expert witness testimony demonstrating the risk of persecution including torture and death fe faced upon arrival in Guinea because of the international media coverage imputing a political optinion to him.
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The List: Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies
Advocacy for protection of U.S.-allied Iraqis under threat by insurgents and seeking refuge in the United States.
Principal Attorney
Christopher Nugent
Co-Counsel
Proskauer Rose LLP
Amnesty International
Description
Partnership with Proskauer Rose and Amnesty International to assist and represent indigent Iraqi refugees on the List with counseling and assistance during their refugee status interviews with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security. www.thelistproject.org
Status
Currently helping 150 Iraqi allies and their immediate families one by one until they are resettled as refugees to the United States. Twenty-seven clients and their families have now secured safe haven in the United States.
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Judge Radhi Hamza Al Radhi Al Kenany
Asylum in the United States for former director of the Commission for Public Integrity charged with rooting out endemic corruption with the Iraqi government.
Principal Attorneys
Gerry Sikorski, Christopher Nugent, Reginal Leichty, Jenna Phipps, Adam Kingsley, Peter Strand, Thomas Leffler; James Power; Jennifer Dure, Timothy Evans
Description
Referred by the media as Iraq's Elliot Ness, Judge Radhi was known and highly respected by United States government representatives in Iraq. Judge Radhi and several colleagues requested asylum in the United States after being repeatedly threatened and targeted for assassination given their politically sensitive fighting corruption.
Status
Final approval granted in the high-profile asylum claims of Judge Al Radhi, his wife and son, Abu Al Hassan. Awaiting decision in Judge Radhi's CPI Chief of Security's asylum claim.
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Daoud Ibrahim Hari
Secure refuge in the United States for a brave Darfuri refugee and first-hand survivor of the genocide in his homeland, Sudan.
Principal Attorney
Christopher Nugent
Description
As a Darfuri refugee in Chad, Daoud Hari became a freelance interpreter for the international media and non-governmental organizations, committed to exposing the genocide in Darfur and refugee crisis in Chad. Mr. Hari was tortured, jailed and threatened because of his work. Mr. Hari fled the region to seek refuge in the United States, which was ultimately granted.
Status
Mr. Hari engaged in a six-month speaking tour with the Save Darfur Coalition and negotiated lucrative deals for both a book and film depicting his inspirational story. Daoud's gripping autobiography, The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur was released on March 18, 2008, by Random House Publishing Group. Please Click Here to view
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Orantes-Hernandez v. Gonzales
Efforts to Preserve Injunction to Protect Asylum-Seekers
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent, Jeffrey Ganguly, Michelle Bedoya, Christin Petroski, Rafael Alfonzo, Jason Lazarus
Co-counsel
National Immigration Law Center
American Civil Liberties of Southern California
American Civil Liberties Union Immigration Rights Project
Description
Nationwide permanent injunction issued in 1988 to protect the due process rights of asylum-seekers by facilitating their access to counsel and legal information. The Department of Justice had sought to dissolve Orantes based on a variety of reasons including the promulgation of immigration detention standards in 2000.
Status
78-page decision ruled that the substantial evidence showed "a significant number of violations of critical provisions of the injunction dealing with detainees' access to legal materials, telephone use and attorney visits." The Department of Justice has appealed the decision to the Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
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Henry Vusari Sunday: Humanitarian Parole
Assistance with Nigerian youth amputee seeking humanitarian parole for medical treatment.
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent, Bonni Kaufman
Description
A 21-year-old university student from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, sustained an above-the-knee amputation as the result of a traffic accident in April 2006 when a car careened into a motorbike on which he was a passenger. Due to the severe societal stigma and discrimination towards amputees in Nigeria and the lack of any treatment for amputees in Nigeria, Mr. Sunday was in desperate need of a prosthetic leg in order to lead a normal life. Connecticut Senators Chris Dodd and Joseph Lieberman and Representative John Larson interceded with DHS in support of the humanitarian parole request for Mr. Sunday.
Status
DHS granted humanitarian parole on April 24, 2007, for a maximum of three months of treatment. Surgery and rehabilitation was donated by Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. and housing provided by the Catholic Worker House in Hartford, Connecticut. Henry returned to Nigeria and wishes to continue his study in real estate, although he would love to attend a university in the United States.
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Nguyen Thuong "Cuc" Foshee
Vietnamese-American citizen and activist held in a Vietnamese prison for democratic idealism.
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent, Tommy Boroughs, Chris Weiss, Suzanne Gilbert, Heather Pinder Rodriguez, Christine Irwin, Leslie Armstrong, Wiley Boston, Rebecca Martel, Michael Starks, Matthew Zimmerman
Description
Ms. Foshee left the United States to attend her nephew's wedding in Vietnam. Within 24 hours of her arrival, she was arrested for advocating democratic ideals and placed in a Vietnamese prison without charges, bond, or access to counsel .
Status
After languishing for 14 months in a Vietnamese prison, Ms. Foshee returned home to Orlando, Fla., thanks to efforts of Florida Senator Mel Martinez and Representative Ric Keller.
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Services and Advocacy for Unaccompanied Children
Representation and advocacy for vulnerable unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children.
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent, David Santeusanio, Michael Galano, Robert Bradner, Richard Gold, Christopher Nugent, Brandon Elledge, Steven Gordon, Leon Fresco
Co-Counsel
National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children; and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
Description
The firm provides direct representation and advocacy services for vulnerable unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children in the United States including a teenage victim of religious persecution from China; a teenage victim of political violence in Guatemala; child victims of severe forms of trafficking; and abused, abandoned or neglected children from various countries eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and permanent residence (green cards).
Status
Matters include Escobar v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 363 (3rd Cir. 2005).
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UNHCR refugee guidebook project
Create guidebook to help refugees in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Principal Attorneys
Adam Ritter, Christopher Nugent, Brian Guth
Description
This innovative pro bono project involves developing a guidebook for UNHCR to assist individuals seeking refugee protection to understand new regulations enacted in 2004 by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands implementing the 1967 United Nations Protocol relating to the status of refugees and Article 3 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This resource will ultimately benefit vulnerable refugees.
Status
Draft guidebook completed.
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Gay and Lesbian Asylum Project
Asylum representation of gay men and lesbians who have experienced or face persecution or torture.
Principal Attorneys
Anthony Masiello, Christopher Nugent, Chung-Han Lee, Charles Coleman, Leon Fresco, Eric Dorkin, Stephanie Hogan
Description
Among those helped in their asylum claims by the firm's CST and GLBT Workgroup members was a gay man jailed in Egypt; a gay man facing execution in Iran; a gay man tortured in the Gambia; a gay man from Lebanon facing a honor killing; gay men with AIDS from Columbia, El Salvador and Cuba; and a lesbian from Uganda who had been abused. This exciting work has been featured in the San Francisco Recorder, The Advocate, The Washington Business Journal, The Washington Blade and on National Public Radio.
Status
Seven cases successfully completed; four are pending. Firm received awards for this work in 2005 and 2006.
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ABA Immigration Detention Standards Initiative
Studies and reports on treatment of immigration detainees.
Principal Attorneys
Donny MacKenzie, Buddy Schulz, Christopher Nugent, Vanessa Sciarra, Troy Smith, Pat Skelton, Steffanie Garrett, Iain Johnston, Mark Nora, James Mueller, Kelli Lott, Suzanne Judas, Robert Beckham, Albert Chin, Kin Cannon, David Shayne, Eric Fishman, Peter Frazier, Zac Potter
Description
We piloted a report to the ABA and DHS on the immigration detention standards at local facilities in Florida. After a firmwide training by the ABA, visits and reports on other facilities are currently being conducted.
Status
Several reports completed
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Mohammed Al Rehaief
Help for heroic lawyer who risked his life to save POW Jessica Lynch in Iraq.
Principal Attorneys
Andrew Stephenson, Wayne Gray, Michael Gaba, William Sessions, Zac Potter, Christopher Nugent, Chris Camarra, Stephen Jeffries, Shannon Graving, Lars Forsberg, Michael Frevola, Steve Hanlon
Description
Team of attorneys assist Mohammed and his family in their considerable legal and other needs in the United States.
Status
Some matters pending; Mr. Al Rehaief was honored by the Anti-Defamation League in 2005.
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Board of Immigration Appeals Pro Bono Project
Representation of indigent appellants before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Principal Attorneys
Cheryl Mpande, Daniel Fessler, Anthony Masiello, Zac Potter, Christopher Nugent, Julie Tappendorf, Christopher Kelly
Description
The firm has undertaken a national pro bono project representing unrepresented indigent immigrants, refugees and other newcomers in their administrative appeals for relief from removal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. This firmwide project was commenced after successfully piloting training in immigration law and appellate advocacy in the Washington and Boston offices.
Status
Matters include In Re Smriko, 23 I&N Dec. 836, Int. Dec. 3520 (BIA 2005) (amicus brief).
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Haitian Criminal Deportee Project
Assertion of Torture Convention claims on behalf of immigrants ordered deported to Haiti.
Principal Attorneys
Vanessa Sciarra, Tammy Knight, Allison McCarthy, Hal Flowers, Richard Menchini, Robert Kuntz, Laura Fernandez
Description
Multi-forum advocacy on behalf of persons ordered deported to Haiti because of U.S. criminal convictions. Current Haitian practice is to immediately incarcerate returnees under conditions that are inhumane and life threatening. Our representation sought to defer removal pending change in government practice.
Status
All cases concluded; more than 7,000 hours of pro bono work.
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Widows and Orphans Act (S. 644)
Legislative pro bono effort to benefit vulnerable refugee women and children abroad.
Principal Attorneys
Janet Studley, Rich Gold, Jeff Boothe, Marvin Rosenberg, Enrique Gomez-Pinzon, Lynn Cutler, Christopher Nugent, Beth Viola, Zac Potter, Andrew Stephenson
Description
A team of attorneys worked to secure Congressional passage of S.644 designed to protect women and children in refugee or refugee-like circumstances who face harm abroad.
Status
Bill reintroduced in 110th Congress.
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Indefinite Detention of Cubans: Benitez v. Mata
Constitutional challenge to the indefinite detention of Cubans who came on the Mariel boatlift.
Principal Attorney
Steve Hanlon
Description
Holland & Knight prepared an amicus brief in support of the petitioner. Our brief provided a history of the use of "parole" as a vehicle for the admission of refugees.
Status
U.S. Supreme Court ruled for petitioner.
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Detained Haitian Refugee Project
Direct services and advocacy for detained Haitian asylum-seekers.
Principal Attorneys
Barbara Locke, Rafael Alfonzo, Frances Faigenblat, Vanessa Sciarra
Co-Counsel
Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center; Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children; & Amnesty International
Description
In response to the Oct. 29 boat of Haitian asylum-seekers, more than 35 lawyers in Miami mobilized to meet their legal service and advocacy needs including bond hearings, asylum hearings and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) petitions. Attorneys also filed a petition to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Geneva, Switzerland, challenging U.S. policies and practices vis-à-vis Haitian asylum-seekers.
Status
Ongoing; victories include SIJS for Ernesto Joseph thanks to Representative Kendrick Meek and then-Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.
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Mount Pleasant Civil Rights Report
Study and report on issues facing immigrant community in Washington, D.C.
Principal Attorneys
Tara Scanlon, Christine Shiker, Christopher Camarra
Description
The report on access to justice issues faced by Latinos and other immigrants 10 years after Mt. Pleasant riots has acted as a catalyst for positive change in governmental policies and practices vis-à-vis the immigrant community in Washington, D.C.
Status
Reports released.
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