Elena fled her country after receiving death threats due to her political activism. She filed for asylum pro se but was denied by the immigration judge who found her testimony not credible. Facing deportation, she found our firm.
We immediately appealed the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Our appellate brief identified multiple legal errors in the judge's decision and argued that the credibility findings were not supported by the record.
The BIA agreed with our arguments and remanded the case back to immigration court for a new hearing. This gave us a second chance to present Elena's case, and we were determined to get it right.
For the remand hearing, we prepared extensively. We gathered country condition reports, expert testimony, corroborating evidence from witnesses in Elena's home country, and psychological evaluation documenting her trauma. We spent weeks preparing Elena to testify clearly and confidently.
At the remand hearing, before a different immigration judge, we presented a comprehensive case. Elena's testimony was powerful and consistent with all the supporting evidence. The judge granted asylum.
Elena now has work authorization and will be eligible for her green card next year. She's working as a community organizer and continuing her activism safely from the United States.