Venezuelan cousins fleeing political persecution win withholding of removal

Client(s) Client S and Client O

On March 17, Jones Day obtained withholding of removal for pro bono clients S and O, twenty-year-old cousins who had been persecuted by the Maduro regime in Venezuela. S and O were politically active in their hometown of Maracaibo, where they held leadership positions in the opposition party headed by National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaidó. As a result of their political activism, S and O were harassed by the colectivos, an armed paramilitary group that works in concert with the Venezuelan government. Attempting to intimidate S and O into ceasing their political activities, the colectivos repeatedly threatened S and O's lives, fired gunshots at S and O's family home, and exploded a grenade outside S and O's family business. S and O were thrilled to obtain withholding of removal and grateful to Jones Day for representing them.