Jacob* is a man from El Salvador. He is from an area that has a strong gang presence. Jacob explained that he was never a gang member. However, many of his childhood friends ended up joining gangs, and he remained friends with them.

In 2021, Jacob was walking home after playing soccer with friends. The police appeared, and Jacob remembers his friend telling him to run. The police began shooting at the group to stop them. However, Jacob thought running would incriminate him, so he did not run. Rather than taking him to the police precinct, they took him to a “quebrada” where they interrogated him. They tortured him while asking him to identify the people who ran, beating him, issuing electric shocks, and even playing “Russian Roulette” with a revolver to his head. Jacob refused to share any names with the police. He figured that if the gang members found out that he had shared their information, they would not only torture and kill him but also target his family.

After many hours of interrogation, the police took pictures of him before allowing him to leave. When he returned home, a few gang members were waiting at his house, and they asked him if he had snitched. He said he did not tell them anything, and they told him that if any of them were detained, they would find him and make him pay for snitching. Now fearing for his life, Jacob went into hiding. He was too afraid to seek medical treatment and risk being caught. After recovering from his injuries, his parents helped him flee to the United States. Jacob fears the police will arrest him in connection with the gangs. Since he left El Salvador and the State of Exception was put in place, his father has told him that many young people from his hometown have been arrested for alleged gang involvement despite having no evidence.

Jacob is eligible for fear-based protection from deportation that may include asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. Additionally, Jacob may be eligible for a U-visa on the basis of the assaults he reported to the police in 2023. Jacob would greatly benefit from pro bono counsel given the intersection of criminal and immigration law in his case. Jacob had been charged with traffic-related convictions including driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a valid license, and speeding in a 55 or under zone.

All Amica Center matters placed with a pro bono team are robustly mentored by an Amica Center attorney and/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 Virtual Attorney Visitation system.
• Timeline: Next calendar (scheduling) hearing is on April 16
• Language: Spanish

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.