Manatt is proud to celebrate National Pro Bono Week 2024 and continue its deep commitment to ensuring that everyone retains the liberties and protections to which they are legally entitled.
In recognition of this year’s theme, “Making Justice a Reality in Our Communities,” Manatt is proud to spotlight some of the pro bono matters completed by members across the entire Manatt community in the past year that both support systemic change and help on the individual level. This work includes:
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Representing a Navy veteran, referred to as T.L. and an Army veteran, referred to as J.M., in requests to upgrade their service discharge. After serving a two-year period of honorable service, T.L. suffered a sexual trauma during his time in the military, leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. He was then discharged under Other Than Honorable Conditions after a minor misconduct incident. J.M. served honorably for approximately two and a half years with no incidents or misconduct prior to the acts that led to his Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge.
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Filing an amicus brief in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court over the denial of an immigrant visa to a U.S. citizen’s spouse, who petitioned for her El Salvadoran husband to become a lawful permanent resident. After the husband passed a background check by the Department of Homeland Security, who determined the wife would suffer if she was separated from her husband or forced to live in El Salvador, the husband interviewed with a consulate in El Salvador to obtain a visa to reenter the U.S., which the Department of State refused to issue with little explanation. In the litigation that followed, the consulate said the visa was denied based on criminal review, despite the spouse having no criminal record, and his tattoos. The case journeyed to the Supreme Court and in the brief filed by Manatt, the Firm stated the decision could affect U.S. citizens who had first come to the U.S. as refugee or seeking asylum, and may be separated from their spouses with no safe country in which to live together, arguing the deep history and tradition of family unity in America’s roots.
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Supporting Safe Passage Project, which provides free legal representation to refugee and immigrant children in the New York City area facing deportation back to life-threatening situations despite their strong legal claim to stay in the U.S. During the Manatt’s annual Day of Service, more than 50 Manatt volunteers across nearly every office and department participated in conducting screening interviews, including providing interpretation for nearly two dozen young people who are seeking attorneys to represent them in deportation proceeding.
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Obtaining legal permanent residence status (LPR) for a former employee of the United States Embassy in Afghanistan and his family, all of whom were evacuated from the country after the Taliban took over. Because of the client’s work which supported interests of the U.S. and its allies, he was eligible for a special immigrant visa, which allowed him and his family to apply to become legal permanent residents once in the U.S. During the application process, the client described his experience fleeing Kabul with his family and recalled being forced by the Taliban to abandon his possessions. Ultimately, him and his family were granted LPR status and have since received their green cards.
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Helping people facing persecution for their political opinions race, religion and/or sexual orientation. Manatt assisted with their asylum applications by providing services including drafting declarations, preparing the applications, collecting supporting documentation and representing clients at asylum interviews. The Firm’s recent work includes obtainig asylum for:
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An Afghan client who escaped Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Welcome and sought asylum before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). As a Shi’a Sadat Muslim, he was targeted nearly his entire life in Afghanistan because of his religion and ethnicity, since the Sadat people are subjected to violence and persecution by the Taliban. Over a year following his interview in 2023, the client was granted asylum.
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A decorated Afghan ally and his family members who were evacuated from the country after the Taliban took over. The client served with the National Mine Reduction Group in Afghanistan and during this time, was shot by the Taliban while pulling a wounded U.S. service member to safety. He received repeated commendations from the U.S. Special Forces and a letter recommending the client for a special immigrant visa.
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A former member of the Afghan National Army who worked as a guard protecting a military base in Kabul and was part of a unit of the Afghan National Army that worked closely with the U.S. military. The client feared returning to Afghanistan where he would be tortured or killed due to his service in the Afghan National Army. Following two rounds of interviews with USCIS, he was granted asylum.
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A former sergeant of the Afghan National Army who was evacuated from the country to the U.S. after the Taliban took over. Having served in the Afghan military providing logistical and military support to the U.S. and defending the Kabul International Airport from Taliban fighters in 2021, he could not return to his home country. Following his interview with USCIS, the client was granted asylum.
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An LGBTQIA+ man from Burkina Faso after an eight-year process before the USCIS. As queer Burkinabes are commonly subjected to violence as well as discrimination in housing, employment and health care access, the client concealed his sexual orientation until he came to the U.S. on a student visa, at which point he applied for asylum, which was granted more than seven years after applying.
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An Afghanistan air force veteran who participated in a training program outside of Afghanistan when the Taliban took control in 2021. Due to his involvement with the Afghanistan Air Force, the client, along with his classmates, was evacuated and brought to the United States where he was granted asylum.
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Representing a U.S. veteran in fighting an extradition request from Spain after attempting to help North Korean officials defect from an embassy in Madrid by staging a kidnapping. During the mission, the group was alarmed by the arrival of Spanish police, causing the team to flee. After the client returned to America, he learned that Spain requested he be extradited on attempted kidnapping charges and that he had become a North Korean target, both of which meant his life could be at risk if he returned to Madrid. This case was featured on CBS News.
The above efforts would not be possible without the guidance of Manatt’s various pro bono partners that are leading the way in helping communities navigate complex issues surrounding their identities, families and livelihoods. Some of the Firm’s long-standing pro bono partners include:
Learn more about Manatt’s Pro Bono practice here.