Akin Gump Wins Asylum for Jamaican-born Woman Fearing Discrimination in Home Country
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(Washington, D.C.) – Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP won asylum in the United States for a Jamaican-born woman from Antigua who feared for her life in her homeland because she is a lesbian. The woman had been living in the United States on a student visa for several years, but was afraid to return home, where she had witnessed the assault of several gay and lesbian friends by private citizens and the police.
James E. Sherry, counsel in Akin Gump’s commercial litigation practice, prepared the woman’s asylum application, prepped her to be interviewed by an asylum officer and represented her during the interview. The case was referred to Akin Gump by Human Rights First, an organization dedicated to protecting refugees, combating torture and defending persecuted minorities worldwide. The firm handled the case pro bono.
Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 850 attorneys in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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