Yesenia Polanco-Galdamez, an immigration and criminal defense attorney from our North Carolina office, recently reached an important victory in an affirmative asylum case. Attorney Polanco was able to help an Egyptian man who had previously suffered from religious persecution secure asylum in the United States. The man’s hearing was held in mid-March, and he was granted asylum just one week later!
Attorney Polanco’s client had petitioned for asylum in the U.S. because he feared future persecution in his home country of Egypt. This fear was based on persecution he had previously experienced due to his faith as a Coptic Christian. The religious discrimination he experienced forced him to leave his entire family behind in Egypt, which included his elderly, ailing mother and his seven siblings. He fled to the United States, despite the fact that he has no immediate relatives in this country.
The Egyptian man has been a practicing Coptic Christian his entire life, which has caused him to be persecuted since childhood. As an adult, he openly protested the prosecution that was occurring in Egypt against the people of his faith. Through these protests, he witnessed many Coptic Christians being injured while they were standing up for their beliefs. In his own experiences, he was personally threatened to abandon his faith and convert to Islam on several occasions.
The situation became unbearable one day when he was attacked by 10 other men, who beat him, tied him up, dragged him into the street by his feet and threatened to murder him if he did not become a Muslim. This victim, who refused to abandon his faith, was rescued by a man and his son. Had these two people not helped the victim escape his attackers, he undoubtedly would have been killed.
As a result of this abuse, the man now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, and he is seeking treatment for emotional distress. He takes medication so that he can function on a day-to-day basis. While the man is heartbroken that he had to leave his mother, he is tremendously fearful of going back to Egypt. Since this individual has been granted asylum, he can now practice his religion without having to fear for his life.
Fayad Law, P.C. assists clients with a broad range of immigration-related legal matters. Whether you are seeking humanitarian relief or you are dealing with other immigration issues, you can turn to our firm for high-quality legal counsel. Contact Fayad Law today!
Disclaimer: Every legal matter is different. The outcome of each legal case depends upon many factors, including the facts of the case, and no attorney can guarantee a positive result in any particular case. Any testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
