Kramer Levin Obtains Asylum for Brazilian Persecuted for Sexual Orientation

Matthew B. Moses and Erin E. Oshiro obtained a grant of asylum for a gay man from Brazil. In Brazil, the client was the victim of a violent abduction and assault because of his sexual orientation. The client fled to the U.S. where he was later diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder and HIV. The client feared that his life would be in danger if he were returned to Brazil, which has an extremely high rate of violent crimes against homosexuals. The Kramer Levin team filed an affirmative asylum application and prepared extensive briefing, successfully arguing that not only did the client's past persecution in Brazil qualify him for a grant of asylum but that the client's posttraumatic stress disorder and HIV-positive status were grounds for waiving the one-year filing deadline for asylum applications. They were supervised by Aaron Frankel. Juliana Oliveira also worked on the case. The matter was referred to Kramer Levin by long-term pro bono partner Immigration Equality.