Javier feared that he would be imprisoned or killed if he remained in his country.
Javier is an agricultural worker from Nicaragua who fled to the United States after being repeatedly beaten by state police and paramilitary for attending anti-government protests. For three years, he was pursued by the Nicaraguan government, who threatened to make him disappear.
Amica Center referred his case to the Center for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) at Georgetown Law, and Javier and his pro bono legal team worked together to prepare for his deportation hearing in immigration court.
At trial, Javier and his student attorneys proved that he had been persecuted in the past for his political opinions and that such persecution was likely to occur again if he returned to Nicaragua.
The immigration judge granted Javier asylum! This means Javier can remain in the U.S. indefinitely. He can become a lawful permanent resident and, eventually, a citizen. Since winning asylum, Javier has been reunited with his brother and sister-in-law, and he hopes to apply for his wife and daughter to join him here.
CALS students Rodrigo Bermudez and Madeline Sachs worked with Javier under the supervision of attorneys and clinical teaching fellows, Lauren Hughes and Iman Saad. Congratulations to all and best wishes to Javier and his family!