Through BOILA's help, Ms. A, a native of Afghanistan, was granted asylum by the Arlington Asylum Office. Ms. A, who is just 20 years old, suffered past persecution on account of her membership in a particular social group, comprised of young Afghani women who are sold into marriage and have resisted men's 'right' to buy and sell them by leaving that marriage. Ms. A suffered persecution in the form of a forced marriage to a man nearly three times her age, who repeatedly subjected her to sexual, physical and psychological abuse. BIOLA also presented evidence that Ms. A possessed a well-founded fear of political opinion. BOILA is very happy that she will be able to move forward with her life.
Ms. S, a native citizen of Zambia, was granted her lawful permanent residency through an approved I-360 Widow Petition, despite many legal hurdles and opposition by DHS. BOILA successfully appealed a denial of her prior I-130 petition and argued that USCIS erred as a matter of law when it failed to automatically convert her I-130 petition to an I-360 widow petition upon the death of her US citizen husband. BOILA established that she entered into her marriage in good faith and that she was entitled to permanent residency despite the untimely death of her husband.
Ms. A, a native of Cameroon, was granted her lawful permanent residency by the Baltimore Immigration Court, after previously being ordered deported several years ago. BOILA had previously filed a motion to reopen on Ms. A's behalf with the Board of Immigration Appeals based on the approval of an I-130 petition filed by her US citizen husband. Despite the Court's prior decision and Ms. A's continued residence in the U.S. after her prior order of removal, she was granted her green card and is now able to remain in the U.S. with her US citizen husband and two US citizen children.
Ms. F., a native of Cameroon, was granted political asylum by the Arlington Immigration Court. Ms. F is a member of the Union of the Democratic Forces of Cameroon (UFDC), an opposition party in Cameroon. With BOILA's assistance, Ms. F established her eligibility for asylum by presenting compelling testimony and supporting evidence to demonstrate that she was arrested on three separate occasions by the Cameroonian government on account of her activism with the UFDC.
Ms. D, a native of Cameroon, will now have another chance to present her eligibility for political asylum before the Baltimore Immigration Court. Although Ms. D was previously represented by another attorney, she came to BOILA to assist her in filing an appeal of the immigration judge's denial of her application for asylum. BOILA presented convincing legal arguments to the Board of Immigration Appeals and established that the judge erred as a matter of law when failing to consider significant corroboratory evidence when issuing his decision. BOILA is hopeful that upon remand, Ms. D will be able to establish her eligibility for political asylum.
Ms. B, a citizen of Guinea, was deemed to be prima facie eligible for benefits as an Abused Spouse under the Violence Against Women's Act. BOILA presented substantial documentation establishing that Ms. B was a victim of domestic physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her US citizen husband.
BOILA is happy to announce that we successfully assisted Mr. A, a citizen of Ethiopia, in get released from ICE custody. Mr. A was arrested by ICE in December 2011 for having remained in the U.S. after he was ordered deported in 1996. BOILA assisted Mr. A's US citizen wife in filing an I-130 petition on his behalf and engaged in numerous negotiations with ICE to stay his removal and release him from custody. After a great deal of effort and time spent, BOILA successfully persuaded ICE attorneys to join in a motion to reopen his prior order of deportation and terminate his proceedings, which will allow Mr. A to seek his green card before USCIS.
Mr. K, a citizen of Cameroon, had his removal proceedings terminated through a joint motion filed by BOILA and the USICE Office of Chief Counsel. Mr. K is the beneficiary of an approved I-130 petition, which BOILA filed on his behalf for his lawful permanent resident wife. Although his wife is not yet a US citizen, BOILA established that based on his wife's pending naturalization and the established bona fides of his marriage, he warranted a favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion.
BOILA is pleased to share that Ms. D was granted her lawful permanent residency by the Washington District Office through the approval of her I-130 petition, filed on her behalf by her US citizen husband. Ms. D and her husband had received a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) the I-130 petition, as USCIS had believed they had not entered their marriage in good faith. BOILA filed a detailed response to the NOID as well as substantial additional documentation in support of their marriage, and convinced USCIS of the validity of the couple's union and Ms. D's eligibility for permanent residence.
Ms. R, a citizen of Mexico, had her I-130 petition approved by USCIS. Ms. R was previously granted withholding of removal and based on the approved I-130 petition, BOILA will be able to file a motion to reopen her removal proceedings so that she may seek lawful permanent residency.
Ms. K, who BOILA had successfully represented before the Board of Immigration Appeals and Baltimore Immigration Court in her efforts to obtain political asylum, was awarded her green card by USCIS.
Mrs. B, a native of Cameroon, had her removal proceedings reopened and terminated. Mrs. B, who was deported many years ago, is now able to pursue her permanent residence based on an approved petition filed by her US citizen husband. BOILA successfully negotiated with DHS to exercise prosecutorial discretion in her case, allowing her to pursue lawful immigration status.
Mr. T and his wife and their children can now move forward with their lives, as Mrs. T was granted her permanent residency by the USCIS Baltimore District Office. Despite the fact that Mrs. T entered the US through the visa waiver program from Belgium several years ago, the couple's I-130 petition was approved and Mrs. T was granted her permanent residency based on the clear and convincing evidence of their shared life as husband and wife.
Mr. Ta, who BOILA had also assisted in his efforts to gain political asylum last year before the Baltimore Immigration Court, had all seven I-730 applications approved, thereby allowing his wife and six children to join him as derivative asylees in the United States.
Mr. S, a native of the Ivory Coast, who has been in the United States since 1995, had his I-130 petition approved by USCIS, based on his bona fide marriage to his US citizen wife. Mr. S is now able to pursue his application for adjustment of status.
Mr. C, a native of Ghana, was granted his lawful permanent residency through the approval of an I-130 petition, filed on his behalf by his US citizen wife.
Ms. Ba, who BOILA successfully assisted in being granted political asylum, had her I-730 petition approved, allowing her husband to join her in the U.S. as a derivative asylee.
Ms. O, who BOILA has successfully represented before the Baltimore Immigration Court in her efforts to obtain political asylum, was granted her lawful permanent residency by USCIS.
Mr. N, a native of Cameroon, had his I-130 approved by USCIS in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. BOILA had previously assisted Mr. N in having his removal proceedings administratively closed and travelled to Philadelphia for his and his wife's recent I-130 interview. He and his US citizen wife will now be able to pursue efforts to secure his green card before the Philadelphia Immigration Court.
Mr. C, a native of Sierra Leone who has been living in the US cine 1992, was granted his permanent residence through approval of a hardship waiver. With BOILA's help, he established that his removal to Sierra Leone would result in extreme hardship to his US citizen wife.
Me. S, a native of Ghana, was finally accorded lawful permanent residence after nearly seven years of struggling with USCIS to acknowledge the bona fides of his marriage to his US citizen wife. Due to the misconduct of a prior attorney, Mr. S's case faced numerous obstacles. BOILA is very pleased that Mr. S can now put his struggles with the immigration authorities in the past.
Ms. L, a native of South Africa, was naturalized and became a US citizen.
Mr. D, a native of Pakistan, was finally sworn in at a recent naturalization oath ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland. For roughly two years, USCIS failed to issue a decision on his application. After much effort, BOILA established that he was entitled to naturalization despite USCIS' concerns regarding his return trips to his native country and good moral character.
Mr. T from DRC was able to to overcome problematic criminal hisotry and get his green card from USCIS Baltimore.
Mrs. N from Cameroon had several minor criminal convictions but was able to obtain citizenship after over 10 years as an LPR.