Cases & Advocacy
W.K. v. Gonzales
As a teenager in Zimbabwe, W.K. was imprisoned for being gay and suffered harassment and abuse, including being shocked with an electric wire. An immigration judge denied W.K.’s petition for asylum and ordered him removed to Zimbabwe. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the decision. In 2006, NCLR and co-counsel petitioned the court to reconsider its decision, but the Court denied W.K.’s petition for reconsideration, making his order of removal to Zimbabwe final.
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In re Dina
Dina, a native and citizen of El Salvador, knew at a young age that she was a lesbian. Living under this constant threat of exposure, Dina was pressured to marry a man. Her husband, a police officer, knew she was gay and used her sexual orientation to control her and her children. For years, he physically abused and raped her, causing near death experiences and prolonged hospital recoveries.
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In re Vanessa
In September 2003, Vanessa left Nicaragua and fled to the United States in search of safety. Vanessa suffered repeated physical and emotional battering by her common law husband who abused her because of her desire for independence and because he knew she is a lesbian. NCLR partnered with local attorney Betsy Allen and filed an asylum application on her behalf based on her gender and sexual orientation.
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In re Shinegerel
In Mongolia, Shinegerel was arrested and detained by the Mongolian police because she is a lesbian. In custody, Shinegerel suffered severe physical abuse while being interrogated about her sexual orientation. She was also threatened with psychiatric hospitalization and imprisonment. NCLR represented Shinegerel at her asylum office interview. She was granted asylum by the San Francisco Asylum Office on March 15, 2005.
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In re Luis
Luis, a 24-year-old gay man from Mexico, suffered years of discrimination, harassment, ostracism, and exclusion from school, sports, his family, and peers because of his sexual orientation. Rather than protect him, police officers in Mexico physically assaulted Luis on numerous occasions. In August, 2003, Luis left Mexico seeking safety in the United States.
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In re Mariella & Edit
On October 13, 2003, Mariella, a transgender woman, and her wife, Edit, were attacked in broad daylight on the streets of Lima, Peru by a gang of youth who beat them with stones while yelling disparaging homophobic comments. After months of continued harassment and threats, the couple fled Peru seeking safety in the United States. Through the support of pro bono counsel David Augustine and NCLR interpreter Noemi Calonje, Mariella and Edit were granted asylum on September 9, 2004.
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