Francis* is a young man from Egypt who identifies as gay and was persecuted and attacked when his sexuality was discovered. While being gay is not explicitly criminalized under Egyptian law, prosecutions are common under debauchery laws and gay people have long been targeted by police and tortured in prison. In Egypt, Francis was in a relationship with his male friend. When the friend’s father discovered them together, he attacked Francis, rupturing his eardrum. Francis lived in a small town, and everyone there found out about his sexuality and turned against him. Furthermore, Francis reported to our staff that he was persecuted by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Francis has serious medical issues. He is still suffering from the injuries sustained in Egypt, and he is not receiving adequate medical care in the detention center. He will need surgery for his ear injury as well as for a heart condition, so he would like to proceed quickly with his case. He passed a credible fear interview, and his release request is pending.

Francis is eligible for fear-based protection from deportation that may include asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture and needs a pro bono team to represent him in his deportation hearing.

All Amica Center matters placed with a pro bono team are robustly mentored by an Amica Center attorney or fully Accredited Representative with expertise in representing clients in immigration proceedings. Our mentoring program includes an opening meeting to discuss the scope and process of the matter, provision of samples, guidance on the law, review of draft filings, assistance with client contact, and guidance on preparation for interviews and hearings.

• Location: Farmville, VA (detained) – facility allows in person visits and uses the Virtual Attorney Visitation system.
• Timeline: next calendar (scheduling) hearing is on March 12, in Annandale, VA
• Language: Egyptian Arabic

Please contact our Managing Attorney for Pro Bono Coordination, Jennifer Grishkin, at jennifer@amicacenter.org if you are interested in taking this case.

*Pseudonyms are used to protect privacy.