Jones Day team wins asylum for two Guatemalan women and their four minor children

Client(s) Client X

A Guatemalan woman and her daughter-in-law who had both endured extreme violence and oppression fled Guatemala and entered the United States with their four minor children. Through the referral of a local pro-bono immigration organization, Jones Day took on their representation in their claims for asylum. Both women had endured brutal physical and sexual violence at the hands of the mother-in-law’s husband who was the patriarch of the household. Despite numerous and repeated attempts of the women to seek protection from the Guatemalan criminal justice system, the government did not protect them and the violence continued unabated, forcing them to flee Guatemala. Jones Day handled the women’s claims for asylum, which included lengthy briefing and direct testimony in immigration court. After two days of testimony and cross examination from the government, the judge granted both the women’s and their minor children’s claims for asylum.