Sudanese pharmacist secures protection under withholding of removal

Client(s) Client E.M.A.A.

Jones Day secured a grant of withholding of removal from the Immigration Court in Laredo, Texas for their client, E.M.A.A., a Sudanese immigrant, detained in the Laredo Processing Center. E.M.A.A.'s grant of relief was based on the profound violence that she suffered at the hands of agents of the Sudanese government, who believed that E.M.A.A. had provided material support to rebel forces seeking to topple the Sudanese government. These government agents were mistaken—E.M.A.A., a licensed pharmacist, had been a victim of rebel forces who broke into and robbed her store at gunpoint. At the conclusion of E.M.A.A.'s merits hearing, the Immigration Judge found E.M.A.A. credible, concluded that she had suffered torture at the hands of agents of Sudan's government, and issued her an order providing that her removal to Sudan was withheld. The grant of relief provides E.M.A.A. with critical protection from being returned to a country where she is at acute risk of suffering additional harm.