RMIAN Cases in Need of Pro Bono Attorneys

RMIAN, in conjunction with the ACLU, is attempting to place the case of an Iraqi man who is a class member in the Hamama v. Adducci litigation that is currently pending. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division granted a preliminary injunction in July 2017, which stayed the removal of over 100 Iraqi men who were rounded up and detained by ICE. Currently, there is a group of Hamama class members detained in Aurora, Colorado and one man is still hoping to find legal counsel to assist in their underlying immigration proceedings. Please see below for details regarding his case.

For more information about the ACLU case, follow this link: https://www.aclu.org/cases/hamama-v-adducci

Detained Cases

The following individuals are detained and in need of pro bono representation:

Bond Cases

Mr. J: Mexican asylum-seeker who suffered beatings due to perceived sexual orientation

36-year-old native of Mexico who entered the United States without inspection in March 2018. Mr. J’s mother and sister are lawful permanent residents here in the United States. Mr. J suffers from a medical issue that affects his reproduction and he is unable to have children. Due to his condition, Mr. J was perceived to be gay and was attacked and beaten in Mexico. Mr. J was found to have a credible fear of persecution by an asylum officer if forced to return to Mexico. Mr. J is eligible for release on bond and asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. Mr. J is scheduled for a master calendar hearing on May 1, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.

Mr. K: 17 year resident with U.S. citizen child and step-child arrested for unpaid traffic ticket

29-year-old native of Mexico who entered the United States without inspection when he was around 12 years old. Mr. K has a U.S. citizen child and U.S. citizen step- child in Utah. Mr. J was arrested in March for unpaid tickets related to traffic infractions. Mr. J was convicted of a DUI and driving without an interlock system around 5 years ago. Mr. J is eligible for release on bond and may also qualify for cancellation of removal for non-permanent residents. Mr. J is scheduled for a master calendar hearing on April 25, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

Mr. L: Family in hiding in Honduras; found to have a credible fear of persecution or torture

22-year-old native of Honduras who entered the United States in 2016 without inspection. In Honduras, Mr. L’s parents worked for the Honduran gov’t and police and Mr. L’s family was targeted by Mara-18 gang members. Mr. L’s parents were shot at, his brother was beaten, his uncle was attacked, and his siblings are currently living in hiding in the mountains of Honduras. After entering the United States in 2016, Mr. L was found to have a credible fear of persecution by an asylum officer and bonded out of immigration detention in Utah. Mr. L’s friend stopped making bond payments and Mr. L’s bond was revoked. He was re-detained by ICE in Utah, then transferred to the GEO facility in Aurora. Mr. L is eligible for release on bond and asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. He has not yet been scheduled for immigration court.

Full Merits Cases

Mr. BB: Anglophone Cameroonian jailed and beaten for political opinion

32-year-old native of Cameroon who presented himself at the border in March 2018. Mr. BB fled Cameroon because he was jailed and beaten for five days because of his political opinions. Mr. BB was arrested after participating in peaceful protests with the Southern Cameroons National Council, a self-determination organization seeking independence of the Anglophone Southern Cameroonians. Mr. BB’s father participated in the protests and was also jailed. Mr. BB managed to escape from jail and fled to the United States. Mr. BB is eligible for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture, as well as release on parole. Mr. BB is scheduled for a master calendar hearing on May 1, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

Mr. CC: Anglophone Cameroonian political organizer beaten and starved by police

34-year-old native of Cameroon who presented himself at the border in January 2018. Mr. CC organized political protests for the Anglophone Cameroonian movement and was jailed, beaten, and starved by the police for 3-4 days. Mr. CC was interrogated and sprayed with tear gas. Mr. CC was released but was told he had to leave the country and he fled to the United States. Mr. CC is eligible for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture as well as release on parole. He is scheduled for an Individual merits hearing on August 13, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.

Mr. FF: Cameroonian nurse beaten for refusing to turn over patients marching for independence

42-year-old native of Cameroon who presented himself at the border in March 2018. Mr. FF worked as a hospital nurse and treated Anglophone Cameroonians who were peacefully demonstrating in support of independence. Mr. FF refused to turn his patients over to the police and he was arrested and beaten for four days. A month later, police were looking for Mr. FF and he fled for his life. Mr. FF is eligible for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture, as well as release on parole. Mr. FF is scheduled for a master calendar hearing on May 1, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

Mr. GG: Anglophone Cameroonian jailed and beaten for participating in peaceful, democratic, demonstration

48-year-old native of Cameroon who presented himself at the border in March 2018. Mr. GG participated in a peaceful protest in support of Anglophone Cameroonian independence on October 1, 2017. The government attacked the protesters, firing bullets into the crowd. Mr. GG was arrested and beaten for 3 days. Mr. GG managed to escape and fled to the United States. Mr. GG is eligible for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture, as well as release on parole. Mr. GG is scheduled for a master calendar hearing on May 1, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.

Mr. HH: Anglophone Cameroonian arrested and beaten for participating in demonstration for independence

43-year-old native of Cameroon who presented himself at the border in March 2018. Mr. HH participated in the protest on October 1, 2017 in support of Anglophone/Southern Cameroonian independence. Police came to his village that night arresting participants in the protest. Mr. HH was detained and beaten by the police and was later released. Police later returned to Mr. HH’s village to arrest more participants and Mr. HH fled to another village. Mr. HH has heard that the police continue to look for him. Mr. HH is eligible for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture, as well as release on parole. Mr. HH is scheduled for a master calendar hearing on May 1, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

Mr. AA: Lawful Permanent Resident for over 40 years eligible for Cancellation of Removal

44-year-old native of the United Kingdom who has been a Lawful Permanent Resident since he entered the country in 1974. Mr. AA is common-law married to a U.S. citizen and he has two U.S. citizen children. Mr. AA’s father was a service member in the U.S. military. Mr. AA is charged as removable due to a possession of a controlled substance conviction from 2014. Mr. AA is eligible for cancellation of removal for legal permanent residents and is scheduled for a master calendar hearing on April 24, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

Mr. DD: Youth leader in Guinean democratic party arrested and beaten by police

31-year-old native of Guinea who presented himself at the border in January 2018. Mr. DD fled his home country after he was arrested and beaten when participating in a demonstration for the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG). Mr. DD was elected as a Youth League Leader for the UFDG Democratic Party. Government officials arrested Mr. DD and beat him, breaking his arm and clavicle. Mr. DD is eligible for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture, as well as release on parole. He is scheduled for a master calendar hearing on May 8, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

Mr. EE: Uzbek man beaten for involvement with democratic party, separated from family at border

39-year-old native of Uzbekistan who presented himself at the border in January 2018. Mr. EE fled his home country with his wife and two sons, but they were separated by immigration officials at the border and Mr. EE does not know where his family is. In Uzbekistan, Mr. EE’s wife joined the Unity democratic political party and they were contacted by members of the government. Mr. EE’s father-in-law was arrested by police and beaten, Mr. EE’s wife was interrogated about her involvement with the party, and Mr. EE was questioned and beaten as well. Mr. EE is eligible for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture, as well as release on parole. Mr. EE is scheduled for an individual merits hearing on June 28, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.

Hamama Class Members:

Mr. I:

Mr. I is a 45-year-old native of Iraq who entered the U.S. in 1994 as a refugee. After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, he deserted the military and joined the uprising against Saddam Hussein. He surrendered to the U.S. military in 1991, spent three years in a prison camp, and then traveled to the U.S. He applied for residency in 2002 but did not receive the biometrics notice and was unable to proceed with his application. In 2005, he worked as a translator for a subcontractor with the U.S. military in California and was detained at a check point. He was later released but was asked to report to ICE for a check-in where he was coerced into signing a removal consent form. He was convicted of communications fraud in 1995, two DUIs from 2003 and 2004, and trespassing in 2010.

He fears returning to Iraq due to his history as a military deserter, anti-government political views, past employment with the U.S. military, and extensive time living in the U.S. RMIAN seeks an attorney to assist him in a Motion to Reopen so that he may pursue fear-based relief from deportation.

Non-Detained Cases

Check back soon for details on cases involving children and families who are not detained and in need of pro bono attorneys to represent them in their cases.