CAIR Coalition

LB is a 37-year old man from Ghana who arrived in the United States in April of 2002 on a tourist visa.  He has a 6-year old daughter who is a U.S. citizen.

LB reports that he left Ghana for the United States because his life was in danger at the hands of the Land Guards, groups which have been known to operate as violent criminal gangs.  LB had given information to the police which had led to the arrests of members of the Land Guards who had killed two police officers.  When LB was identified as the informant, he was targeted by the Land Guards, who kidnapped and beat him severely on three occasions.  The Land Guards told LB that they would kill him if he did not leave town.

LB also indicates that he had been sexually abused as a child by an uncle.  When LB spoke out about the abuse he had suffered, his uncle retaliated by poisoning him, as a result of which LB spent over a week in the hospital.

LB reports that these experiences caused him to have a “mental breakdown.”  He has been treated in the United States since 2005 for his mental health conditions.  Prior to this year, his only criminal convictions were for two DWI offenses in 2004 and 2005.

LB is currently in removal proceedings in the Baltimore Immigration Court.  He entered immigration custody after being convicted in 2011 on theft and credit card fraud charges.  The convictions arose from incidents during which LB was hearing voices.

This pro bono opportunity will involve assisting LB in applying for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture.  The pro bono attorney will represent LB in Immigration Court by preparing and submitting the application with supporting documentation and preparing witnesses to testify on his behalf.  LB has a fiancée, an uncle, and two cousins – all of whom are U.S. citizens – who may be willing to support him in his application.

LB speaks English, Ga, and Akan. He is detained at the Worcester County Detention Center in Snow Hill, Maryland, which is roughly three hours from Washington, D.C.  CAIR Coalition has a video-conferencing system which allows attorneys to communicate with detained clients at a number of local facilities via televideo from our office in Washington, D.C. While the Worcester County Detention Center is not currently included among these facilities we are working to try to get it included as soon as possible.  CAIR Coalition may also be available to assist in visiting the client at the detention center.

Please contact our Equal Justice Works Fellow Stephen Dekovich at (202) 331-3320 ext. 13 if you are interested in taking this case.