RMIAN Cases in Need of Pro Bono Attorneys
Non-Detained Cases
For more information on non-detained cases please contact Lauren Duke at lduke@rmian.org.
U-Visa Cases:
MMR is a 44 year-old mother of two from Mexico. She is eligible for a U-visa based on a felony assault gunshot to her leg. RMIAN has obtained a signed U Visa Certification Request for MMR. She needs to file for her U-cert as soon as possible but no later than January 20th, 2019. MMR would like to include her daughter and husband as derivatives.
MMR is also in removal proceedings and can likely pursue an asylum claim due to gang-based threats to her life and children because the gang was looking for her husband. MMR must apply for asylum by November 19, 2018. Her next master calendar hearing is October 25, 2018.
MMR needs representation in her immigration proceedings, applying for a U-Visa, and in her asylum claim.
ASYLUM CASES:
ERR is a mother of three from El Salvador. ERR fled El Salvador to escape abuse and death threats from her ex-husband. ERR was subject to repeated, on-going abuse at the hands of her ex-husband for almost 15 years. Her husband was physically, emotionally, and sexually abusive. ERR would sometimes lose consciousness and has physical scars from his attacks. ERR now lives with her youngest son, who can be included as a derivative in her asylum application.
ERR has filed her asylum application with the help of her former attorney. ERR filed the application after her one-year filing deadline. However, ERR is likely part of a class action settlement that will allow asylum seekers to proceed with their claim despite the late filing. Her next immigration hearing is October 2, 2018 at 1:00 where she can set her case for a merits hearing. ERR may be required to submit briefing 60-90 days after her October hearing regarding her asylum claim. Her merits hearing is likely to be scheduled between 2019 and 2021.
Detained Cases
The following individuals are detained and in need of pro bono representation. For more information on detained cases please contact Jessica Burnett at jburnett@rmian.org.
Mr. MK: 15-yr resident who cares for disabled daughter and partner with diabetes
Relief Sought: 10-Year Cancellation of Removal
Country of Origin: Guatemala
Language: Spanish
Next Hearing: November 16, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. (individual merits hearing)
29-year-old native of Guatemala who entered the United States in 2003 without inspection. He has two U.S. citizen step-children through his undocumented partner. Mr. MK’s step-daughter has needed several operations on her foot and will need additional surgeries in the future. His step-daughter also has only one kidney. Mr. MK’s partner needs Mr. MK’s assistance taking care of the children because she has diabetes and suffers from vision loss as well as other ailments. Mr. MK may be eligible to pursue cancellation of removal if he can get assistance petitioning a Utah court to recognize his marriage to his partner. Mr. MK was apprehended by ICE after being arrested for a DUI in July 2018.
Ms. ML: 18-yr old indigenous Guatemalan forced into relationship with gang member , held captive and raped
Relief Sought: Withholding of Removal, CAT
Country of Origin: Guatemala
Language: Mam and Spanish
Next Hearing: December 17, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. (individual merits hearing)
18-year-old indigenous Guatemalan who first entered the United States as a 17-year-old minor. She aged out of Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody and was deported back to Guatemala in March 2018. Ms. ML returned to the United States in May 2018 and was placed in reasonable fear proceedings due to her fear of return. In Guatemala, Ms. ML was forced into a relationship with a gang member who held her captive for a year and raped her. She tried to go to the police but they refused to take her report. When she was sent back to Guatemala in March 2018, the same gang member found her and threatened her. Ms. ML’s brother whom she was living with beat her for bringing a gang member to their house. She seeks assistance with her asylum claim before the immigration court.
Mr. MM: Father detained with son, Mr. MN (wife and other son detained in NY) – all seeking asylum based on death threats from cartel after multiple family members killed
Relief Sought: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, CAT
Country of Origin: Mexico
Language: Spanish
Next Hearing: 10/1/18 at 8:30am (master calendar hearing)
53-year-old native of Mexico who entered the United States in June 2018 seeking asylum. Mr. MM was previously detained in California and transferred to Aurora. Mr. MM entered the United States with his wife, two sons, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. Mr. MM is detained in Aurora with one of his sons, his wife and other son are detained in New York, and his daughter-in-law and granddaughter were released and currently living in Chicago. Mr. MM’s brother-in-law was murdered by members of La Nueva Generacion de Jalisco along with three of his brothers. Mr. MM’s father-in-law testified to the police and the family’s information was leaked to the cartel. The cartel began threatening to kill Mr. MM and his entire family if they did not leave their town. Mr. MM’s wife and son are pursuing asylum claims before the immigration court in New York while Mr. MM and his son, Mr. MN, seek assistance with their asylum claims here in Aurora.
Mr. MN: 19-year-old son of Mr. MM, seeking asylum after receiving threats from cartel
Relief Sought: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, CAT
Country of Origin: Mexico
Language: Spanish
Next Hearing: 10/1/18 at 8:30am (master calendar hearing)
19-year-old son of Mr. MM seeking assistance with asylum claim based on same facts from Mr. MM’s case.
Mr. BT: Ex-police officer in Mexico and 20-year resident of the US with fear of reutrn
Relief Sought: Bond
Country of Origin: Mexico
Language: Spanish
Next Hearing: October 2, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. (master calendar hearing)
45-year-old native of Mexico who entered the United States without inspection around 1998. He has a fear of return to Mexico based on his past employment as a police officer. Mr. BT was apprehended by police in Utah when he tried to intervene in a domestic dispute between his neighbors. He was previously convicted of a DUI 14 years ago and other traffic offenses. He is diabetic and has cardiac problems and seeks assistance with release on bond.
Ms. AB: Sold into prostitution ring by ex-partner, threatened by police if she reported crime
Relief Sought: Remand from BIA appeal – withholding of removal/CAT
Country of Origin: Mexico
Language: Spanish
Next Hearing: September 27, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. (master calendar hearing at Denver non-detained court)
26-year-old native of Mexico who was previously deported in 2011 and suffered domestic abuse upon her return. Ms. AB’s former partner sold her into a prostitution ring where she was held captive for 3 months in 2013. She witnessed local police working with her captors, and after her release she was threatened with death by a police officer if she tried to report what happened to her. The immigration judge previously denied Ms. AB relief and she appealed her case to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Her case was remanded back to the Denver (non-detained) immigration court to address issues in the case identified by the BIA. Ms. AB has represented herself up to this point and seeks assistance with her remanded case.