April 2, 2008
On March 17, the Board of Immigration Appeals sustained Willkie's appeal of the denial of asylum for Paul Makinde, a local political opposition leader in Nigeria. The firm is representing Mr. Makinde pro bono, who has been detained by the Department of Homeland Security in a holding facility since he attempted to enter the United States illegally in June 2007. At a hearing in Immigration Court in New Jersey, Mr. Makinde testified that he was a local leader who organized and spoke at gatherings in opposition to the ruling political party in Nigeria, the People's Democratic Party (PDP). In response to Mr. Makinde's opposition, the PDP beat and repeatedly threatened to harm or kill him. The Immigration Judge found Mr. Makinde credible, but concluded that the persecution was insufficiently severe, and was the result of generalized lawlessness, not targeting based on political belief. The Board disagreed, finding that Mr. Makinde's experiences did constitute persecution based on his political opinion. The Board granted Mr. Makinde asylum. Pending a DHS security and background check that usually takes around five weeks, Mr. Makinde will be released from detention to live in the United States.
The matter is being handled by partner Richard Mancino, and associates Michelle Torres, and Jared Cohen.
