SLVMS Attorneys Win Asylum for Pro Bono Clients

Jun 23, 2017   Print PDF

Related Practice: Litigation

Stokes Lawrence Velikanje Moore & Shore attorneys Sean Russel and Jaime Cuevas, Jr. successfully represented a Mexican family at their asylum hearing before the U.S. Immigration Court. 

The family became the target of a drug cartel after resisting the oppression and violence the cartel inflicted on their community. Cartel members responded to the family’s defiance with death threats. After a close family member was murdered by the cartel, another family member was abducted, and the death threats continued, the family, which consisted of both parents and several children, fled to the United States in 2014 and immediately applied for asylum. Since entering the United States, family members have carried on their daily lives in Central Washington. The parents and eldest daughter have been employed with approved work authorization from the United States, and the younger children have attended school while they awaited their final individual hearing for asylum.

On June 21, 2017, the Court granted the family’s request for asylum, which allows them to lawfully remain in the United States and eventually apply to become U.S. citizens. Very few of these asylum cases are granted. In 2016, the United States received 12,831 asylum applications from Mexico and only 464 were granted.  

“As a son of Mexican immigrants who sought a better future in America, I feel privileged to have been able to work with this family who sought the same,” noted Jaime. “And, of course, the family is delighted and relieved with the outcome.”

“As lawyers, we feel an obligation to help those in need,” added Sean. “We are honored to help this deserving family move into the next chapter of their lives.”

All of the attorneys and staff at Stokes Lawrence were thrilled with the outcome and appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the success story and life-changing events for this family.