Asylum granted to individual fleeing religious persecution

Client(s) Client A

In client A's home country, Eritrea, all but four "recognized" religions are banned. Client A's religion, Pentecostal Christianity, is not recognized, and practicing his faith is a criminal offense. During one prayer meeting, security forces burst in, arrested everyone present, and confiscated their bibles. Our client was imprisoned for a year. Fearing that he would be arrested again if he ever exercised his faith openly, he later fled to Ethiopia, where he lived as a refugee for a period of years. After a long journey, our client sought asylum in the United States.

During his initial hearing in Immigration Court (where Jones Day did not represent him), asylum was denied. Jones Day appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which reversed each of the Immigration Court's adverse findings and remanded the case. Jones Day represented the client on remand, and on October 31, 2019, the Immigration Court granted our client asylum.