LOS ANGELES IMMIGRATION JUDGE GRANTS ASYLUM TO KENYAN IN CASE COMMENCED IN 2005

This afternoon I completed an asylum trial before Immigration Judge Dorfman of the Los Angeles Immigration Court in the matter of a Kenyan Kikuyu, whose case I took on at the Asylum Office (AO) level in 2005.  The case was initially denied by the AO and administratively closed and could not be referred to Immigration Court due to a lack of jurisdiction on the part of the court at the time.

In early 2010, long after court jurisdiction became possible, the client returned to my firm wishing to continue the asylum claim before the court in "Removal Proceedings."  We thus requested of the AO that the case be referred to the Immigration Court and commenced proceedings before the Court in mid 2010.

Now, seven years after we commenced this case, and after numerous delays, including changes in judges, we are happy to have been given our day in court and to have secured asylum for this cient.

This has been my 15th immigration trial of the year, and the 15th in which the client, facing removal from the United States, has secured some form of permanent or indifinite immigration relief.

By: Duane M. Hamilton