HIAS 2019 Annual Report

HIAS BORDER FELLOWS WIN RELIEF FOR CLIENTS, SAVING LIVES
HIAS fellows successfully represented numerous individuals, including:
Daniela and Andrés,* a married couple from Venezuela
who were physically assaulted by colectivos (armed
bandits) because of their activity as organizers for
the opposition Primero Justicia party. The colectivos
ransacked their home, looted their personal property, and
threatened their relatives with death. After fleeing on foot
to Colombia, the couple traveled north and were extorted
by federal agents in Mexico. When they were waiting for
the U.S. to process their asylum claim, their apartment
in Juarez was raided. After their harrowing journey, their
HIAS fellow helped them win asylum in U.S. immigration
court. The couple is working to bring their four minor
children to the United States to begin a new life.
Luis and Ana,* a brother and sister in their 20s from El
Salvador, who were separated from their sister Amelia* at
the border. The older siblings were held separately at the
West Texas Detention Facility for seven months, unable
to contact each other due to the separation of genders at
the facility. Their HIAS fellow was able to get Ana released
on bond, but Luis was not released. The fellow asked the
Judge for a special hearing and Luis was finally granted
bond and released. All three siblings were reunited in the
U.S. in time for the holidays.
Marcela and Jose,* two married doctors from Cuba, who
refused to participate in a medical mission to Venezuela.
Because of their refusal, the doctors were fired, their
medical licenses were revoked, and they were barred
from any employment in Cuba. After fleeing Cuba, they
were held in a Mexican federal jail for several days. A HIAS
fellow represented them in their hearing, and they were
granted withholding of removal and allowed to stay in the
U.S., where they intend to pursue their medical careers.
This win is particularly noteworthy as the immigration
judge who presided over this case has the second highest
denial rate in the United States.
Carlos,* a Honduran man, who was separated from his
pregnant wife and nine-year-old child at the border when
he was put into detention at the West Texas Detention
Facility. After five months in detention, the HIAS fellow
was successful in getting the judge to grant bond. The
father was able to reunite with his family in Minnesota in
time for the birth of his second child, and the family of
four is thriving together.
*The names of these clients are pseudonyms used to protect confidentiality.
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