(LOS ANGELES – 10/29/2018) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today announced its Immigrants’ Rights Center (IRC) assisted a Sudanese national gain asylum after being detained for nearly eight months in an immigration detention facility.
The 35-year-old man fled Sudan after being detained, tortured and shot by Sudanese security forces multiple times. He traveled through Egypt, South America and Central America
Upon arriving in the United States, he was transferred to an immigration detention facility in Adelanto, Calif.
He spent four months in detention before the IRC found out about his case. IRC took his case free of charge and represented him throughout his proceedings. Immigrants’ Rights Managing Attorney Farida Chehata made several trips to Adelanto over subsequent months, meeting with him to get his story, draft his application and attend hearings for his case.
During the process, the IRC reached out to a distant family member and worked to gather supporting declarations for the man’s case. Chehata successfully represented the man during his trial. The immigration judge granted him asylum and ordered his release from detention, ensuring that he would never have to face persecution again.
Nearly eight months after arriving in the U.S., he left the detention facility, for the first time as a free man. Through asylum, he will eventually have the opportunity to become a U.S. citizen.
The man and his family expressed immense relief that his ordeal has ended. They were appreciative of the work CAIR-LA’s IRC performed on his behalf.
“Our client faced nearly insurmountable odds and endured a long process to gain asylum in the U.S.,” Chehata said. “We put in many hours on this case and felt strongly about our client’s claim. The result was extremely gratifying; we couldn’t be happier.”
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Forrest Lee, 714-776-1847 or flee@cair.com