Asylum and Immigration
Our lawyers take great pride in navigating the complexities of asylum and immigration law to support our courageous clients as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. In 2024, Jenner & Block lawyers handled numerous cases, advocating for individuals seeking asylum and other immigration relief.
Asylum Granted to Persecuted Activist Fleeing Caste-Based Violence
After facing years of legal battles, a pro bono client has been granted asylum in the United States, thanks to the tireless efforts of a Jenner & Block team. The client, who fled India to escape persecution for opposing caste-based discrimination, corruption, and the oppression of the poor, faced violence and threats from local authorities.
Despite being initially detained at the US border and denied asylum, his case was ultimately reversed on appeal. Our client was given asylum and the opportunity to remain in the US safely with his family.
The team on the case included Partner Michael Brody, Special Counsel Will Barksdale, London Associate Ashutosh Ray, and Junior Paralegal Kenyon North. Former Associate Andrew Cherry drafted the Ninth Circuit appeal brief and Paralegal Supervisor Cheryl Olson assisted on the appeal. Mike and Will go into detail about the background of the case in this Heart of the Matter video.
Jenner & Block Helps 18 Afghan Refugees Secure Asylum in the United States
Since 2021, Jenner & Block has been dedicated to supporting Afghan refugees who have fled the Taliban’s control.
In 2021, as the Taliban regained power, our client, who had fought against the Taliban in support of the previous Afghan government and US military forces, was forced to flee with his family to escape persecution. In June 2024, the firm, in collaboration with Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS), successfully secured asylum for our client, his wife, and their four children.
Partners Jacob Alderdice and Susan Kohlmann, Associates Allison Douglis and Alex Ryshina, and IRIS provided critical legal support to the family during the asylum application process in Connecticut.
A different Jenner team secured asylum for three Afghan siblings whose mother and two youngest sisters were murdered by the Taliban in February 2022. The team became involved in the matter in 2021 after the firm took on numerous Afghan Humanitarian Parole (HP) cases following the Taliban’s capture of Kabul. After the killings, the surviving siblings’ HP applications were granted. In July 2023, the firm submitted asylum applications for the surviving siblings and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducted interviews in September 2023. Each of the siblings were granted asylum in July 2024.
The team included Partner Debbie Berman and Associates Emma O’Connor and Sara Cervantes, with support from Client Contracts Counsel Michael DeMar, Paralegal Sandra Mielke Gentile, former Associate Andrew Cherry, and former Paralegal Taliah Ray.
Yet another team helped secured asylum for another Afghan family who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover. The client faced persecution due to his work as a contractor for foreign entities, including the United States, and his role as a prosecutor for the former Afghan government.
The team included Associates Tae Kim and Jackie Carrero and Partner Gianni Servodidio.
Another Afghan refugee, referred to the firm through our partnership with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), was evacuated from Afghanistan in August 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). After spending several months as a refugee in Albania, our client was granted humanitarian parole and moved to the United States to begin a new life. In February 2024, USCIS granted asylum to this client, as well.
Partner Mike McNamara, Pro Bono Counsel Nura Maznavi, and Client Contracts Counsel Michael DeMar prepared the client’s asylum application materials, with assistance from Of Counsel Andi Kenney.
Lawsuit Challenges Biden Administration’s Asylum Ban, Citing Risk to Vulnerable Migrants
Immigrants’ rights organizations, in partnership with Jenner & Block, filed a federal lawsuit in June 2024, challenging a newly finalized rule by the Biden Administration that severely restricts access to asylum at the US-Mexico border, putting thousands of vulnerable migrants at risk.
Alongside the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), National Immigrant Justice Center, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies at UC Law San Francisco, ACLU of the District of Columbia, and Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP), Jenner filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center (Las Americas) and the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES).
The new rule, finalized in September 2024, was issued by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Department of Justice (DOJ), and effectively limits asylum protections for most migrants arriving at the border. The proclamation mandates that individuals seeking asylum can only access it if they manage to secure an appointment at a port of entry, or if they meet a narrow set of exceptions—restrictions that many advocates argue violate US asylum law.
The rule mirrors measures previously attempted by the Trump-Pence Administration, which immigrant-rights advocates successfully challenged.
As part of ongoing litigation, Jenner & Block and its partners completed summary judgment briefing and filed supplemental briefs in December 2024 to challenge the finalized rule.
The Jenner team includes Partners Lindsay Harrison and Melissa Root, Associate Mary Marshall, former Partner Matthew Price, Summer Associates Salvador Sandoval and Kevin Zhang, and former Law Clerk Donovan Hicks.
Two Pro Bono Wins Showcase Jenner’s Commitment to Immigrant Rights and Justice
In 2024, Jenner & Block lawyers continued their work to help change the lives of immigrant clients facing dire circumstances. Both cases exemplify the firm’s unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable immigrants and providing the highest level of pro bono legal support.
In a case overseen by Partner Brian Fischer, Client Contracts Counsel Michael DeMar successfully secured the termination of removal proceedings for a 15-year-old from Guatemala, bringing an end to his long-standing immigration struggles. Working with the Safe Passage Project, Michael filed a motion in a New York Immigration Court just days after a new rule was enacted by the Executive Office for Immigration Review. This rule grants immigration judges the authority to terminate removal proceedings when the government’s lawyer refuses to exercise prosecutorial discretion, even when good cause is shown. In this case, Michael’s swift action meant that the client no longer had to appear in court, and with the removal proceedings dismissed, he no longer faces the threat of deportation. In addition to this victory, Michael and Brian had previously obtained employment authorization for the client. They are now working to securing the client’s adjustment of status to Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), which will set him on the path to US citizenship.
In a separate pro bono matter, Jenner & Block’s work for a trafficking survivor from the Philippines culminated in a long-awaited and hard-fought win with the approval of her Green Card in March 2024. Referred to the firm in 2017 by the Human Trafficking Legal Center, our client, Ms. M., endured years of abuse at the hands of traffickers who brought her to New York City under false pretenses and subjected her to grueling labor under exploitative conditions. After escaping in 2009, she sought justice but faced significant obstacles in obtaining a T Visa, including the risk of deportation under new policies. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Associate Illyana Green, Ms. M. was granted a T Visa in June 2020. The team continued their advocacy for Ms. M., guiding her through the process to secure a Green Card in 2024. This victory represents not just the approval of her application, but the culmination of a years-long fight for justice and safety for Ms. M. The team additionally included former Partners Rachel Alpert, Michelle Kallen, and Cindy Robertson.
Partner Debbie Berman and former Associate Michael Kang stand with pro bono client Dulce Carranza after having taken her Oath of Citizenship.
Client Contracts Counsel Michael DeMar stands with pro bono client Carlota Salinas after having taken her Oath of Citizenship.
Path to Citizenship
Thanks to the dedication of Jenner & Block lawyers and partnerships with nonprofits such as the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), several clients secured naturalization in 2024.
Carlota Salinas was sworn in as a US citizen in February 2024. Her case was referred to the firm through our pro bono partnership with NIJC. Partner David Greenwald and Client Contracts Counsel Michael DeMar worked closely with Carlota to help her prepare for the Oath of Citizenship.
In May 2024, Dulce Carranza and her husband were also granted naturalization. She was represented by Partner Debbie Berman, Pro Bono Partnership Lawyer Angelina Smith, Pro Bono Coordinator Maddy Donath, and former Associate Michael Kang.
Securing Deferred Action for Witness to Labor Rights Violations
In 2021, our client entered the US undocumented and found work at a chicken processing plant in West Virginia. There, she witnessed severe labor abuses, including unsafe working conditions and exploitation. When the Department of Labor (DOL) began investigating the plant, it issued a Statement of Interest requesting US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to grant deferred action to workers like our client, so they could participate in the investigation without fear of deportation.
Jenner & Block Partner Caroline Meneau, in partnership with Marriott lawyers Johann Lee and Bobby Walia, worked to secure a four-year grant of labor-based deferred action. Deferred action would allow our client to remain in the US and work legally while the DOL’s investigation continued.
In a timely victory, USCIS granted our client four years of deferred action and employment authorization, allowing her to continue her work without the threat of deportation.
Professional Development Manager Laura Zavala provided invaluable translation support throughout the matter.
Jenner & Block Team Secures Asylum for Courageous Client from El Salvador
A team of Jenner & Block lawyers, in partnership with the National Immigrant Justice Center, secured asylum for a woman who was forced to flee her home country of El Salvador after being brutally attacked on multiple occasions by gang members.
Despite knowing the risks, our client bravely stood up for justice and testified against her attackers twice in court. Following her testimony, our client was forced to live in hiding, rarely leaving her house out of fear that gang members would seek retribution.
In 2019, she fled to the United States, where her case faced multiple COVID-related delays. When she arrived, she was separated from her son at the border for eight months. Following a merits hearing and background check, our client was officially granted asylum on June 27, 2024.
The team included Partner Michael Ross, Associate Kristen Green, and former Associates Melissa Fedornak and Edeli Rivera.