Kramer Levin Clients Honored at Immigration Equality's Safe Haven Awards

Several Kramer Levin clients were honored at Immigration Equality's 2013 Safe Haven Awards ceremony on May 29, 2013. Immigration Equality, a longtime pro bono partner of Kramer Levin, represents LGBT and HIV+ asylees as well as advocating for equal treatment of same sex couples in immigration law. Two of the honorees, bi-national couple Raymond Fisher and Juan-Carlos Palomino, faced challenges living together in the United States because Juan-Carlos is a Mexican citizen and their same-sex marriage is not recognized under Federal law. They received Immigration Equality's Global Vision Award for their work on behalf of same-sex bi-national couples. Raymond and Juan-Carlos are longstanding clients of Ted Ruthizer and the Business Immigration Group. The Business Immigration Group was able to help Juan Carlos overcome various immigration challenges and qualify for permanent residence. Andrew Sullivan, one of the country's most respected political commentators and bloggers, is another long-time client of Ted Ruthizer and the Business Immigration Group. Andrew was a featured speaker at the ceremony, introducing the corporate awardees Intel and Marriott for their work on behalf of Immigration Equality. Also recognized during the event was a Jamaican national, Mark, who was granted asylum through the hard work of his pro-bono Kramer Levin counsel Dannie Cho and Samantha Ford, who successfully argued that their client would face anti-gay persecution in his native Jamaica.

Kramer Levin has obtained asylum for over 20 Immigration Equality clients, and has counseled Immigration Equality on a variety of immigration, employment and transactional matters.