A Graves Dougherty pro bono team helped five individuals—and in some cases, their minor children—achieve asylum via partnership with the organization Vecina. Our clients were part of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Like many Afghans, our clients had suffered threats, and in at least one case, murder of a family member at the hands of the Taliban due to their association with the U.S. military.
The newly granted asylum statuses allow our clients and their children to stay in the U.S. indefinitely, without fear of deportation. They were previously given temporary “parole” status, which would have expired this year without the grant of asylum.
About Vecina
Vecina is an Austin-based non-profit dedicated to serving the immigrant population by training and mentoring pro bono attorneys, educating communities, and mobilizing volunteers. Learn more at vecina.org or to donate, click here.