Asylum

We proudly helped and Ethiopian family seek for Asylum in this country. He and his wife lived in Ethiopia until July 2006, where he worked as an accountant and auditor. However his history as a member of the opposing party made him a target and victim of Government violations of human rights. It started when he took part in students' protests against government abuses, and continued when he was a professional, for his membership to the opposing party and his political opinions against the Government. The situation changed from constant harassment to actual persecution, and while he escaped and arbitrary detention, he had to turn himself in because the police had arrested his father as a way of putting pressure on him. He was released later due only to his friendship to a very powerful family, related to the governing party. He and his wife tried to find a way out of the country. He was able to go back to work, where he had been constantly harassed for his political opinions, and waited for things to calm down. He applied for international scholarships twice and finally was able to come to USA with a J-1 visa with his wife, where he studied and worked. In March 2007 their son was born as a US citizen. Five months later his wife and son traveled to Ethiopia, since her father was very ill and she wanted the family to meet her son. They had been told things were calm and probably traveling there would not be a problem. However upon arriving to Ethiopia, mother and son were arrested and she was harassed constantly, and later detained. She was released thanks to the same friends that had helped the husband years before; and they helped her leave the country, in a very risky way though. She was forced to leave her son behind because she could not afford to put him in such danger. She knew the baby would be fine with her family for a while as he was an American citizen, and a very close friend would be traveling safely to USA in a few months. Back in USA they prepared all documentation and were able to bring the baby back. With all this sad circumstances, and the evidence and research that our staff put together, in February 2008 we filed an Asylum petition for both husband and wife. We prepared them for the interview, which was scheduled in only three months, due to the undeniable evidence submitted. In August 2008 their Asylum was approved, and we were all very happy for them. They will be able to file for a green card a year after their asylum, and we will be there to help them again.

Our client from Lebanon hired our office to represent him before Immigration Court. He had entered USA without permission in 2001 and was placed in deportation proceedings. Our office filed an asylum application before the court in 2002 claiming that our client had suffered past prosecution from the Syrian forces that at the time had occupied Lebanon. We submitted evidence that he and his family members were beaten and tortured by Syrian forces. We helped our client to obtain affidavits from family members who were tortured and suffered from the civil war. We also conducted an extensive research on factual background information for Lebanon in order to convince the court that our client had a well-based fear of future prosecution because of the current situation in Lebanon. In 2004 the Immigration Court approved the asylum case. In 2005 our office filed his Green Card application which was approved in June 2008.

Our client, a citizen from Armenia came to USA in 2007 with a visitor visa. He retained our office to help him apply for political asylum. He had served as senior inspector police in the Department of Republic of Armenia. Our office filed application for asylum within 1 year of his entry. We prepared the case very well and presented before the immigration officer the evidence to show that our client was persecuted, tortured and abused in his home country, because he publicly went against corruption and publicly refused to persecute peaceful demonstrators who protested against the government. His case was approved in 2008 shortly after the interview. Our client will be eligible to file his Green Card application within one year of approval. Scott Bratton handled this case for Margaret Wong and Associates, with help from Jilan Zhang.

Our client came to our office when she fell out of status for a technical reason. We were able to successfully get her back in status. However, while we were working on her status issues, we also applied for asylum. She feared persecution in Pakistan due to her marriage to a man of a different religion. Her asylum case was approved. We later filed her application for permanent residence. In June 2008, her green card application was approved. Scott Bratton handled the case.

Our client applied for asylum in New York after being placed in removal proceedings. We filed an asylum application and argued that our client feared returning to China because she had two children born in the United States. We argued that her fear of harm was greater because her husband was granted asylum eight years ago based on opposition to the family planning policy. Although they did not know each other at the time, we argued that his prior problems with the Chinese Government made our client at greater risk of harm. After considering the evidence and testimony, the Immigration Judge granted asylum in June 2008. Scott Bratton handled the case.

Our client applied for asylum in Chicago approximately eight years ago. His case was denied by the Immigration Judge and Board of Immigration Appeals. We then took over the case and appealed to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. After reviewing the briefs and hearing arguments, the Seventh Circuit concluded that the Board issued an unreasoned decision and did not properly consider the evidence. The case was sent back for a new hearing before a different judge. In the meantime, our client's circumstances changed and the Government argued that this change meant that our client did not have a reasonable fear of returning to his country (Kazakhstan). We acknowledged a change but argued that his fear was still reasonable. The Immigration Judge concluded that asylum was not warranted. However, on appeal the Board of Immigration Appeals agreed that asylum was warranted. In June 2008, asylum was granted. After eight years, our client's battle to win asylum was finally over. He was granted asylum. The Seventh Circuit decision can be found at (WILL ADD GUCHSHENKOV CITE FROM OUR WEB). This case is cited often when discussing review of Board decisions on asylum issues. Scott Bratton handled the case.

A citizen from China entered without inspection and applied for asylum based on being a member of Falun Gong spiritual group, which is under government persecution in China for their beliefs and practices. He had to postpone his asylum interview because of a medical emergency. He never received a new interview notice in the mail. His case was then referred to the Immigration Judge. He had a new hearing scheduled, but never received a Notice to Appear or a hearing notice, therefore he did not show up again and was ordered to be removed in absentia for failure to appear at his hearing. He was later picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and detained. At this point, he hired our firm to reopen his case. Our firm filed a motion to reopen in absentia for failure to receive both the Notice to Appear and a hearing notice at his current address. The case was reopened, and the client is now eligible to apply for asylum through the court. Scott Bratton and Deborah Lee handled the case for the firm.

Our client and his family, Lebanese citizens of Druze religion, came in the US in October 2006 with B1 visitor visa. He hired our office in May 2007 and we immediately filed I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal with CIS based on his fear of prosecution because of political opinion and membership in a particular social group. While he lived in Lebanon he and his family suffered several times at the hands of Hezbollah simply because his brother was a US Citizen and in the army. They had to leave Lebanon and lived in Dubai for a couple of years before coming to US. They were still threatened to leave Dubai because they were considered unwelcomed in an Islamic country and being harassed by people related to the Hezbollah group there. Mr. Bratton appeared with our client at the asylum interview before CIS in June 2007 and argued that we had enough evidence showing that our client established the standards for a grant of asylum because of past prosecution and well -based fear of future prosecution by Hezbollah if he is forced to return to Lebanon. We submitted a considerable volume of research that showed that Hezbollah is a powerful organization in Lebanon, one that has been banned by the US as terrorist group and known for its hostilities against Americans. This case was approved as soon as Mr. Bratton submitted another summary brief on the case after the interview and more evidence documenting the vigorous anti-American campaign of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Kristie Lumakin and Fabiola Cini also helped with the case.

Our client, a Chinese Indonesian, entered the US in 2002 as visitor. She reentered in 2003 and or office filed her asylum application in 2004. She filed application for asylum based on the fear of persecution because of being a Chinese Christian. Also our client was forced to have an abortion because the government of Indonesia does not allow unmarried 20 years old Chinese women to have children and at the time she was expecting a child she was under 20 and single. The case was originally denied by the immigration officer and referred to the Immigration Court. During the removal proceedings our office prepared thoroughly for the case conducting extensive research on the precedents in similar cases and background materials showing that Chinese Indonesians face discrimination and widespread violence in Indonesia. The Immigration Judge found that our client suffered past prosecution and represented enough evidence that she had a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group and therefore the asylum was granted in 2008. Scott Bratton handled the case for Margaret Wong & Assoc. Also Fabiola Cini helped in this case.

Our client hired our firm to apply for asylum. She was Chinese and a citizen of Indonesia. We applied for asylum with the Immigration Court. We assisted our client in obtaining numerous documents to corroborate her case. We argued that she was persecuted in the past due to numerous instances of sexual harassment and robbery. We also argued that there had not been a fundamental change in circumstances in Indonesia since the time of the persecution. The Immigration Judge agreed with our arguments and granted asylum. Scott Bratton handled the case.

Our office was contacted by an individual who was attempting to legalize his status in the United States. He and his mother were denied asylum previously by the Asylum Office. He was a derivative on that application and was now over 21. He was not in removal proceedings. Based on the information we received and his fear of returning to Belarus, we advised him to file his own application for asylum with the Asylum Office. He was interviewed in connection with his application. In April 2008, his asylum application was approved. Scott Bratton handled the case.

Our client came to our office because she was interested in pursuing an asylum claim. Her claim was based on her claim of past persecution under China's family planning policy and her fear of future persecution for exposing a corrupt Government official. We filed her claim with CIS. She was interviewed by the Asylum Office in Chicago, Illinois. Within four months of filing the application, the case was approved. Kristie Lumakin and Scott Bratton handled the case. Mr. Bratton attended the interview. 

Our client is a citizen of Lebanon. After coming to the United States, he hired us to file asylum. We prepared the application and filed it with CIS. We also spent a great deal of time preparing our client for the interview. We attended the asylum interview with our client in Houston, Texas. In August 2007, our client's asylum application was approved. Scott Bratton handled the case for Margaret Wong & Associates. Kristie Lumakin assisted with the preparation of the asylum application. 

A Serbian-Ukrainian client seeking asylum on the basis of religious persecution was denied and put in the removal proceedings on the grounds that there was not enough evidence to support her claims of imminent torture upon her return to her home country. However, the decision only came after the Immigration Judge refused to consider key evidence on behalf of our client. We immediately appealed the decision, arguing that the testimony of the respondent was credible, and that the Immigration Judge erred in her decision and abused her discretion, and ultimately won asylum for our client. Our client entered the country in January 1994 and after more than 13 years waiting and painfully going through the surrounding circumstances, her I-485 (Application for green card) based on asylum was approved in 2007.

A Chinese family living in New York was granted asylum and we filed I-485 application for permanent residence for all three family members. It only took USCIS Nebraska Service Center 6 months to process and approve all three cases. No request for evidence was issued and they received their green cards in July of 2007.

Our client retained Margaret Wong & Associates after he had a final order of removal.  Our client had two United States citizen children.  We filed a motion to reopen arguing that our client should be permitted to apply for asylum on the basis that there had been a change in circumstances in China.  We relied on evidence that had recently come to light that the Chinese Government, especially in Fujian Province, punished those who had two children in violation of the family planning laws, even where the violation occurred in the United States.  After consideration of our motion, an Immigration Judge in New York reopened the case to allow our client to apply for asylum based on the new circumstances.  Scott Bratton handled the case for Margaret Wong and Associates.

Our client retained us in 2005 after he received an asylum revocation notice which threatened to end his asylum status and end his employment authorization card that came with his asylum claim. Our attorney attended this asylum revocation hearing in Chicago. Officer asked a lot of questions regarding other names used by our client and his family and officer’s focus was on client’s entry to the US and whether client was who he claimed to be. Our attorney gave officer a number of documents to establish our client’s identity and his son's identity. At the hearing, we were told that a decision would be forthcoming. In January 2007 we received Notice of Continuation of Asylum Status from Chicago, notifying us and our client that he remains in asylum status because CIS has decided not to terminate our client’s asylum status due to lack of sufficient evidence to meet the evidentiary standard required. This also preserved his spouse and children’s asylum status. Scott Bratton handled this case for Margaret Wong & Associates.

The Board of Immigration Appeals remanded our client’s case for a new asylum hearing.  On appeal, we argued that the Board could not meaningfully review the case because the hearing transcript was missing several key portions of testimony.  We argued that it would be a due process violation to rule on the appeal without a full record.  The Board agreed that it could conduct any meaningful review without a complete transcript.  Thus, the case was sent back to the Judge for further proceedings.  Scott Bratton handled the BIA appeal for Margaret Wong & Associates Co, LPA.

ur client was picked up by the Department of Homeland Security while he was on the way to our office to apply for asylum.  He was placed in removal proceedings because his visa had expired.  Our office filed an application for asylum on our client’s behalf based on the coercive family planning laws in China.  After hearing detailed testimony at the asylum hearing and considering the substantial amount of evidence we presented, the Immigration Judge granted asylum.   This will allow our client to bring his wife and child to the United States from China.  Unfortunately, they had been unable to obtain a visa to come to the United States.  Due to the grant of asylum, the family will be reunited.  Scott Bratton, Michael Fungsang, and Jilan Zhang worked on the case.  

When our client retained Margaret Wong & Associates, his asylum case had been denied by the asylum office.  We assisted our client in obtaining additional evidence from the Ivory Coast to support his claim.  After a long hearing on his asylum claim, the Immigration Judge granted our request for asylum.  Our client will be able to apply for his green card in one year from the date his case was granted.  Scott Bratton represented our client.

When our client came to our office, her asylum case had been denied by the asylum office.  We assisted her in obtaining additional documentation, including evidence from her home country of Mauritania.  After an extensive hearing on the case, the Immigration Judge granted asylum.  Scott Bratton handled the case for our firm

When our clients retained Margaret Wong & Associates, they had been denied asylum by the Asylum Office.  We were hired to pursue their claim with the Immigration Judge.  There were several hearings in the case due to the complexity of the legal issues involved.  At the final hearing in September 2006, the Immigration Judge granted asylum based on China’s coercive family planning policies.  Our clients will be able to remain in the United States and can apply for permanent residence in one year.  Scott Bratton represented our client in the court proceedings. Arty Wynieski also worked on the case.

When our client retained our firm, her application for adjustment of status had been pending for several years.  This was based on asylum.  Her adjustment of status case had not yet been approved despite the fact that her mother’s case and her brother’s case were approved.  Our office filed a Complaint with the United States District Court seeking to compel them to adjudicate the adjustment of status application.  Within 90 days of filing the Complaint, the adjustment of status application was approved.  Scott Bratton handled the case.

Our client is a native and citizen of Ghana. He filed his asylum application soon after he came to the United States, which was over ten years ago. When he finally received notice that his asylum interview was scheduled for May 2005, he hired our office to represent him at his interview in Chicago, Illinois. We assisted our client in preparing for the interview and Scott Bratton represented our client at his asylum interview. Subsequent to the interview, our office submitted additional evidence in support of his asylum claim along with a brief detailing why our client was entitled to asylum despite the change in Government in Ghana. In August 2005, the Asylum Office granted our client asylum. Scott Bratton handled the case for Margaret Wong and Associates.

Our clients applied for withholding of removal before the Immigration Judge (they were ineligible for asylum because they did not file within one year of admission). Our clients feared returning to Ukraine. After hearing the evidence, the Immigration Judge granted withholding of removal finding that both our clients met the standard for withholding of removal. Scott Bratton handled the case for Margaret Wong and Associates.

In 1996, our client filed an application for asylum with the Asylum Office arguing that he suffered past persecution in Russia because he was Jewish. His application was referred to the Immigration Judge. Our firm was then retained to handle the asylum case in immigration court. After considering the evidence relating to Petitioner's claim, the Immigration Judge granted asylum. Scott Bratton handled the case.

Our client retained our firm after his asylum appeal was denied by the Immigration Judge. We appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals. The Board denied the appeal and extended voluntary departure for an additional 30 days. Our firm then filed an appeal with the Sixth Circuit along with a motion to stay removal and voluntary departure. During this process, our client married a US citizen and she filed an I-130 on his behalf. While the Sixth Circuit appeal was pending, the I-130 was approved. Additionally, the motion to stay voluntary departure was granted, meaning that our client did not face a 10-year bar to adjustment of status for overstaying his voluntary departure. We then moved to reopen the case with the Board of Immigration Appeals. Our motion was granted and the case is back before the Immigration Judge to allow our client to apply for adjustment of status. Scott Bratton handled this case for our firm.

In Alami v. Ashcroft, 112 Fed.Appx. 362, 2004 WL 2491666 (5th Cir. 2004), the United States Court of appeals for the Fifth Circuit remanded Alami’s case to the Board for the failure to adequately consider whether Alami established past persecution. Scott Bratton handled the case for Margaret Wong & Associates.
When our client came to our office, her asylum case had been referred to the Immigration Judge. Our client was a citizen of Belarus. We renewed the asylum application before the Immigration Judge and submitted additional documentation in support of the asylum claim. After a hearing on the asylum application, the Immigration Judge granted the asylum application. Scott Bratton represented our client.

Our client, who is a citizen of Serbia and Montenegro, filed an application for asylum with the Immigration Judge. Her asylum application was denied and our office filed an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals. The Board remanded the case back to the Immigration Judge due to the Immigration Judge’s failure to properly consider our client’s well-founded fear of persecution claim. At her new hearing on the asylum claim, the Immigration Judge granted asylum. Scott Bratton handled the BIA appeal and remanded asylum claim.

Our client retained our office after she had been ordered deported for failing to appear at her hearing. We were able to successfully move to reopen her case and renewed her asylum application that had been referred to the Immigration Judge. The basis of her asylum claim is that she had been forced to undergo female genital mutilation while in her home country. After a hearing on her asylum claim, the Immigration Judge granted asylum. Scott Bratton represented our client in all proceedings.

Our client applied for asylum and his case was referred to an Immigration Judge. Our client was ordered deported for failing to appear at his hearing. He argued that he never received any notice he was in proceedings. A Motion to Reopen was denied by the Immigration Judge and the Board. An appeal was taken to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The Third Circuit then remanded the case to the Board for reconsideration of the issue. The Board reopened the case and remanded the case to the Immigration Judge. At the time of our client’s next hearing, he was the beneficiary of an approved labor certification and had an I-140 pending. At the hearing, the removal proceedings were terminated to allow our client to apply for adjustment of status before the CIS. Scott Bratton represented our client in this matter.

The Immigration Judge granted asylum to a family of four from Georgia who feared returning due to religious reasons. Scott Bratton represented our clients in removal proceedings.

Our client, who came to the United States approximately 10 years ago, was placed in removal proceedings after her asylum case was referred to an Immigration Judge. She then came to our office to have us represent her in removal proceedings. Our office filed a labor certification under 245(i) and an I-140, which was approved. We filed her I-485 application before the Immigration Judge and her application for adjustment of status was granted. Her long journey is now over and she is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. Scott Bratton represented our client before the Immigration Court.

Our client was pursuing a law degree in an African country that was ruled by a dictatorship. He was arrested in a university student demonstration and severely beaten by government forces for distributing leaflets promoting democratic ideals and basic human rights. He was taken to jail, beaten and left for dead. He was rescued, recovered, and continued to speak out in favor of basic human rights when he was again arrested and beaten by government forces. Finally, to save his life, he fled the country and arrived in the United States in 2001. He realized his dream of being able to stay, work and live in the United States when his application for withholding of removal was granted by an immigration judge. Our client testified in his own behalf and was articulate, intelligent and credible. The client was represented at his hearing by Bob Marek.

China Citizen Who Sought United States Asylum From Religious Persecution In China For The Practice Of Falun Gong

Our client (Mr. C) had participated as a young adult and demonstrator against the Chinese government in the Tiananmen Square uprising, for which he was beaten. Mr. C sometime later became a follower and practicing member of the religion of Falun Gong. The Chinese government had even arrested him for practicing Falun Gong. Mr. C came to the United States and sought asylum. The United States government challenged the merits of his asylum application and the matter was heard in Immigration Court. The hearing lasted over 4 hours and toward the end of the case, the Immigration Judge asked our client to demonstrate 5 steps of Falun Gong. Mr. C got up from the witness chair, stood in the direction of the Immigration Judge and flawlessly and with precision and perfection demonstrated the 5 steps of Falun Gong. This demonstration persuaded the Immigration Judge to grant Mr. C's asylum application on the basis of Mr. C being a genuine follower and practitioner of Falun Gong.

Congratulations on asylum grants in May 2003 and June 2003 to two PRC nationals! A thirty-six-year-old PRC national from Quantzao was granted asylum on June 11, 2003, based on the coercive birth control policies of PRC. A twenty-six-year-old PRC crewman working in Fuchien witnessed a captain smuggling cigarettes and other boxes. IJ granted asylum on May 23, 2003. We offer our warmest congratulations and best wishes to both of these new asylum grantees.