After a long and harrowing journey through multiple countries, the Q family of nine arrived in the United States in September 2022.
The transformative power of our advocacy and profound impact of our work.
Just recently, the family’s asylum hearing was held at the Immigration Court in Sterling, Virginia. They have been in removal proceedings for over three years, delayed by procedural complexities and multiple motions filed along the way.
After years of uncertainty, it was this four-hour hearing that gave the family their final opportunity to present their case for asylum. Thanks to the dedication of the WAW legal team, the proceedings concluded with a full grant of asylum by the immigration judge.
The impact of our Legal Services.
One of the most significant challenges presented during the hearing was the firm resettlement bar, which was raised in an effort to disqualify the family from asylum eligibility. The firm resettlement bar is a rule in U.S. immigration law that can make someone ineligible for asylum if they were “firmly resettled” in another country before coming to the United States. It was argued that because the Q family had received humanitarian visas in Brazil, they had a viable opportunity for permanent resettlement there. Our legal team responded with a masterful legal rebuttal highlighting that their stay in Brazil was not secure, durable, or permanent and that the family lacked meaningful legal status and stability in Brazil.
Additionally, there were several non technical and irrelevant arguments introduced into the trial and WAW’s legal team offered skillful objections and clear framing of the legal standards that kept the hearing focused on the law and the facts and duly made a powerful impression. The ability to tactfully redirect the judge’s attention and defend the family’s case with such clarity and poise was exceptional.
Ultimately, her decision to grant asylum reflects not only the strength of our legal team but also our commitment to putting forward a human centered narrative rooted in both justice and lived experience.
The human impact of this victory cannot be overstated.
One of the family members, a sister, is battling severe health conditions. With asylum granted, she will now have access to receive the medical care she urgently needs. The children were visibly joyful, and the entire family was overwhelmed with gratitude.
Since the hearing, they have continued to call and thank the WAW team for “every moment, every document, every effort.” Their relief and happiness are reminders of why we do this work.
The movement.
The strength of the work at WAW lies in our collaboration and that strength changed the course of a family’s life. We will continue to carry this momentum forward and advocate with the same heart, precision, and purpose for all Afghan families.
