Asylum for LGBT+ Client from Africa

Attorney Mooradian's client, an LGBT+ person from Africa, recently received asylum after the Boston Asylum Office approved their petition.  Mooradian spent many hours with his client reviewing their life history and developing a comprehensive declaration detailing her life history, including significant physical abuse and government persecution.

Mooradian submitted extensive country conditions reporting showing the pervasive persecution of LGBT+ persons in the client's country of origin, as well as witness statements, physical evidence, medical reports, and psychological reports.  Following an interview that lasted several hours, during which Mooradian represented his client, the client received a decision granting her indefinite protection here in the United States as an asylee. Mooradian argued recent case law, including law set by Attorney General Merrick Garland, which changed the legal standard with respect to persecution on account of gender and sexuality.  He also highlighted that the client was incredibly consistent in her declaration and testimony, and highlighted the overwhelming medical records and psychological records that tended to show the reasonableness of her fear of future persecution and the credibility of her claim.

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In one year, the client will be eligible to apply for lawful permanent resident status on the basis of their asylee status; they will eventually be eligible for United States Citizenship.  Meanwhile, they can enjoy indefinite authorization to work as well as international travel should they apply for a refugee travel document.