WASHINGTON, D.C., September 15, 2022 – Baker Botts associate Sarah Zhang (Washington, D.C., Antitrust) and special counsel Lee Davis (Washington, D.C., Corporate) successfully represented a client from El Salvador in asylum proceedings based on persecution by the Salvadoran police for his indigenous race.  The hearing on the merits was held before Immigration Judge Dinesh C. Verma in the Hyattsville Immigration Court.   The client was attacked twice by the Salvadoran police for being a member of the Nahua indigenous group and a coordinator for an indigenous rights organization.  He was severely beaten, fired upon and threatened with death during these attacks. His fear of persecution caused him to flee to the United States.

Baker Botts obtained the case through Ayuda, which provides legal, social, and language services to help low-income immigrants in the DC area access justice and transform their lives.

Baker Botts assisted the client in preparing his asylum application, interviewed the client, wrote a brief in support of the asylum application, worked with experts to draft supporting affidavits and prepared the client for his hearing before Judge Verma. Based on the thoroughness of the documentation and the quality of the claim, the government did not contest the case at the hearing and Judge Verma granted asylum.

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