Afraid that “Jorge” might suffer the same fate as fellow peaceful protestors who had been imprisoned and beaten or “disappeared,” he and his wife decided to flee to the U.S. with their two-year-old daughter.
Jorge was severely injured by police during a political protest. Knowing the government’s oppression of political opponents, he left his home and hid for the next two years while police searched for him. Fearing for his life, the family eventually decided their only option was to flee their country.
After arriving in the U.S., Jorge and his family were arrested by immigration authorities and put in removal proceedings. Jorge was interviewed by law students in the University of Arizona Community Immigration Law Placement Clinic who determined he had a case for asylum. The clinic referred him to APA, and APA recruited the Ayala Law Office to represent the family for a reduced fee. APA shared the cost of attorney fees with Jorge. He and his family were granted asylum by the Immigration Judge.
