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Political asylum is a global issue and DLA Piper lawyers regularly represent asylum seekers from around the world. For example, the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition in Washington, DC referred Mrs. B, a Guinean engineer, to DLA Piper. Beaten when she objected to a second daughter undergoing genital mutilation, she ultimately fled to America. DLA Piper argued that Mrs. B should receive political asylum as part of a group of women who hold a minority political opinion that puts them in danger. Mother and daughter were recommended for approval and began their new lives.
Another client, Ms. P, was an 18-year-old Haitian seeking asylum in New York. Her father had been head of security for two United States ambassadors to Haiti and for interim Haitian President Boniface Alexander. Because of these high-profile positions, the Lavalas, a political gang loyal to former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, targeted Ms. P and her family. After a four-hour hearing before a United States Immigration Judge, Ms. P was granted asylum.