Jones Day obtains asylum for two unaccompanied minors
Client(s) E.V. and M.V.
Jones Day obtained asylum for two unaccompanied alien children ("UACs") seeking refuge in the United States. After escaping gang violence and death threats in Mexico, siblings E.V. and M.V. attempted to join their mother in the United States and were detained while crossing the border. The United States instituted removal proceedings against both children in the Los Angeles Immigration Court. Jones Day filed I-589 Applications for Asylum and Withholding of Removal with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Asylum Office ("USCIS"), successfully arguing that a gang's threats and attacks against the children's family constituted persecution of a "particular social group" warranting asylum in the United States. Jones Day then represented the children in interviews with USCIS. USCIS found E.V. and M.V. had a genuine and reasonable fear of returning to Mexico and granted asylum pursuant to section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The immigration judge then granted Jones Day's motion to terminate E.V. and M.V.'s removal proceedings.
This representation is part of a Firmwide initiative to represent UACs in immigration proceedings, following the detention of 60,000 unaccompanied minors in the spring of 2014. Jones Day has represented numerous clients in immigration proceedings nationwide as part of this effort.
The case was referred to Jones Day through Public Counsel.
