The List: Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies
Advocacy for protection of U.S.-allied Iraqis under threat by insurgents and seeking refuge in the United States.
Principal Attorney
Christopher Nugent
Co-Counsel
Proskauer Rose LLP
Amnesty International
Description
Partnership with Proskauer Rose and Amnesty International to assist and represent indigent Iraqi refugees on the List with counseling and assistance during their refugee status interviews with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security.
Status
Training held with high-level officials from the United States government and international agencies to launch initiative.
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Daoud Ibrahim Hari
Secure refuge in the United States for a brave Darfuri refugee and first-hand survivor of the genocide in his homeland, Sudan.
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent
Description
As a Darfuri refugee in Chad, Daoud Hari became a freelance interpreter for the international media and non-governmental organizations, committed to exposing the genocide in Darfur and refugee crisis in Chad. Mr. Hari was tortured, jailed and threatened because of his work. Mr. Hari fled the region to seek refuge in the United States, which was ultimately granted.
Status
Mr. Hari is engaged in a six-month speaking tour with the Save Darfur Coalition and is negotiating lucrative deals for both a book and film depicting his inspirational story.
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Henry Vusari Sunday: Humanitarian Parole
Assistance with Nigerian youth amputee seeking humanitarian parole for medical treatment.
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent, Bonni Kaufman
Description
A 21-year-old university student from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, sustained an above-the-knee amputation as the result of a traffic accident in April 2006 when a car careened into a motorbike on which he was a passenger. Due to the severe societal stigma and discrimination towards amputees in Nigeria and the lack of any treatment for amputees in Nigeria, Mr. Sunday was in desperate need of a prosthetic leg in order to lead a normal life. Connecticut Senators Chris Dodd and Joseph Lieberman and Representative John Larson interceded with DHS in support of the humanitarian parole request for Mr. Sunday.
Status
DHS granted humanitarian parole on April 24, 2007, for a maximum of three months of treatment. Surgery and rehabilitation is being donated by Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. and housing provided by the Catholic Worker House in Hartford, Conn.
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Nguyen Thuong "Cuc" Foshee
Vietnamese-American citizen and activist held in a Vietnamese prison for democratic idealism.
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent, Tommy Boroughs, Chris Weiss, Suzanne Gilbert, Heather Pinder Rodriguez, Christine Irwin, Leslie Armstrong, Wiley Boston, Rebecca Martel, Michael Starks, Matthew Zimmerman
Description
Ms. Foshee left the United States to attend her nephew's wedding in Vietnam. Within 24 hours of her arrival, she was arrested for advocating democratic ideals and placed in a Vietnamese prison without charges, bond, or access to counsel .
Status
After languishing for 14 months in a Vietnamese prison, Ms. Foshee returned home to Orlando, Fla., thanks to efforts of Florida Senator Mel Martinez and Representative Ric Keller.
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Services and Advocacy for Unaccompanied Children
Representation and advocacy for vulnerable unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children.
Principal Attorneys
Douglas Burnett, Christopher Nugent, David Santeusanio, Michael Galano, Robert Bradner, Richard Gold, Christopher Nugent, Brandon Elledge, Steven Gordon, Leon Fresco
Co-Counsel
National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children; and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
Description
The firm provides direct representation and advocacy services for vulnerable unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children in the United States including a teenage victim of religious persecution from China; a teenage victim of political violence in Guatemala; child victims of severe forms of trafficking; and abused, abandoned or neglected children from various countries eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and permanent residence (green cards).
Status
Matters include Escobar v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 363 (3rd Cir. 2005).
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UNHCR refugee guidebook project
Create guidebook to help refugees in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Principal Attorneys
Adam Ritter, Christopher Nugent, Brian Guth
Status
Draft guidebook completed.
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Gay and Lesbian Asylum Project
Asylum representation of gay men and lesbians who have experienced or face persecution or torture.
Principal Attorneys
Anthony Masiello, Christopher Nugent, Chung-Han Lee, Charles Coleman, Leon Fresco, Eric Dorkin, Stephanie Hogan
Status
Seven cases successfully completed; four are pending. Firm received awards for this work in 2005 and 2006.
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ABA Immigration Detention Standards Initiative
Studies and reports on treatment of immigration detainees.
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent, Steffanie Garrett, Iain Johnston, Mark Nora, James Mueller, Kelli Lott, Buddy Schulz, Suzanne Judas, Robert Beckham, Albert Chin, Kin Cannon, David Shayne, Eric Fishman, Peter Frazier, Vanessa Sciarra, Zac Potter
Status
Five reports completed.
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Mohammed Al Rehaief
Help for heroic lawyer who risked his life to save POW Jessica Lynch in Iraq.
Principal Attorneys
Andrew Stephenson, Wayne Gray, Michael Gaba, William Sessions, Zac Potter, Christopher Nugent, Chris Camarra, Stephen Jeffries, Shannon Graving, Lars Forsberg, Michael Frevola, Steve Hanlon
Status
Some matters pending; Mr. Al Rehaief was honored by the Anti-Defamation League in 2005.
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Board of Immigration Appeals Pro Bono Project
Representation of indigent appellants before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Principal Attorneys
Cheryl Mpande, Daniel Fessler, Anthony Masiello, Zac Potter, Christopher Nugent, Julie Tappendorf, Christopher Kelly
Status
Matters include In Re Smriko, 23 I&N Dec. 836, Int. Dec. 3520 (BIA 2005) (amicus brief).
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Immigration Relief for Malik Jarno (H.R. 2040)
Immigration representation and advocacy for mentally-retarded teenage orphan from Guinea.
Principal Attorneys
Christopher Nugent, Paul Kiernan, Gretchen Nagy, Marili Cancio, Zachary Potter, Robert Bradner, Rich Gold, William S. Sessions, Janet Studley, Michael Galano, Beth Viola
Co-Counsel
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Description
The firm marshaled civil rights claims against immigration authorities and jail officials for abuse against Mr. Jarno in jail, which failed. The firm conducted a fact-finding mission to Guinea to gather evidence for Mr. Jarno's asylum claim. More than 70 members of Congress, numerous public interest organizations, the general public and the international media responded to his plight. Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced private legislation for Mr. Jarno in the 108th and 109th sessions of Congress. In 2006, his asylum claim was remanded by the Board of Immigration Appeals for a third round of proceedings based on previously unavailable evidence.
Status
Asylum proceedings pending before the Executive Office for Immigration Review; FOIA suit, Jarno v. DHS, 365 F.Supp.2d 733 (EDVa 2005).
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Haitian Criminal Deportee Project
Assertion of Torture Convention claims on behalf of immigrants ordered deported to Haiti.
Principal Attorneys
Vanessa Sciarra, Tammy Knight, Allison McCarthy, Hal Flowers, Richard Menchini, Robert Kuntz, Laura Fernandez
Status
All cases concluded; more than 7,000 hours of pro bono work.
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Widows and Orphans Act (S. 644)
Legislative pro bono effort to benefit vulnerable refugee women and children abroad.
Principal Attorneys
Janet Studley, Rich Gold, Jeff Boothe, Marvin Rosenberg, Enrique Gomez-Pinzon, Lynn Cutler, Christopher Nugent, Beth Viola, Zac Potter, Andrew Stephenson
Status
Bill reintroduced in 109th Congress.
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Indefinite Detention of Cubans: Benitez v. Mata
Constitutional challenge to the indefinite detention of Cubans who came on the Mariel boatlift.
Principal Attorney
Steve Hanlon
Status
U.S. Supreme Court ruled for petitioner.
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Detained Haitian Refugee Project
Direct services and advocacy for detained Haitian asylum-seekers.
Principal Attorneys
Eugenio Hernandez, Barbara Locke, Rafael Alfonzo, Frances Faigenblat, Marco Ferri, Patricia Hernandez, Vanessa Sciarra, Asnardo Garro
Co-Counsel
Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center; Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children; & Amnesty International
Description
In response to the Oct. 29 boat of Haitian asylum-seekers, more than 35 lawyers in Miami mobilized to meet their legal service and advocacy needs including bond hearings, asylum hearings and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) petitions. Attorneys also filed a petition to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Geneva, Switzerland, challenging U.S. policies and practices vis-à-vis Haitian asylum-seekers.
Status
Ongoing; victories include SIJS for Ernesto Joseph thanks to Representative Kendrick Meek and then-Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.
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Mount Pleasant Civil Rights Report
Study and report on issues facing immigrant community in Washington, D.C.
Principal Attorneys
Tara Scanlon, Christine Shiker, Christopher Camarra
Status
Reports released.
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