Olivier was in ICE custody for over 2 1/2 years.
Through Olivier’s perseverance and multiple successful appeals, while working with his legal team, he was released from detention and reunited with his family.
Olivier and the Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP team began working together after Olivier represented himself in immigration court. Unfortunately, the judge conducted an inadequate competency hearing before moving on to the merits of Olivier’s case and ordered him to be deported.
The Curtis team began representing Olivier in January 2021 on his first appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The BIA sided with Olivier and ruled that he was entitled to a new, reasoned competency evaluation and review of his applications for relief from deportation. After the judge ruled against Olivier again, his legal team obtained a second reversal from the BIA. In this second appeal, the BIA sided with Olivier again and, this time took the unusual step of entering a factual finding that he required safeguards.
We frequently encounter people in immigration detention who have lingering trauma that makes it more difficult for them to participate in their deportation hearings, and all too often, the courts do not recognize their challenges. In Olivier’s case, we were fortunate to find a legal team to help him fight this battle.
At an individual hearing spanning two days, the court heard testimony from Olivier, his spouse, and an expert witness. After several months of deliberation, the judge finally granted Olivier protection under the Convention Against Torture. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of Olivier and his attorneys, and we are happy that Olivier has been released and is living safely with his family in the United States.
Congratulations to Olivier and the Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP legal team. Special thanks to Marija Ozolins, Andrew Larkin, Marwa Farag, and Jean Lambert!