Buffalo immigration attorney Ryan Witmer, a partner with the Law Office of Matthew Borowski, recently won a gang-based LGBT El Salvador asylum case before the Batavia Immigration Court for a detained asylum seeker. The claim was based on the respondent's fear of returning to El Salvador due to past persecution he faced at the hands of members of a criminal gang (mara) who beat, raped, and tortured him due to his sexual identity. When he went to the police for protection, he was refused any assistance. El Salvador has a well-documented history of refusing police protection to individuals who suffer persecution as a result of their sexual orientation. The result represents a huge victory for Mr. Witmer's client, who came to the United States seeking protection from torture.
"Gang-based cases from Central American countries such as El Salvador are notoriously difficult to win," said attorney Witmer. "I was very pleased with the outcome in this case, particularly given my initial fears because my client was unable to provide any documentary proof of the horrible persecution that he suffered. At the end of the day, Immigration Judge Steven Connelly saw that our client testified credibly and that gay rights are extremely tenuous in El Salvador, given the weight of the country conditions evidence."
The lawyers at Borowski Immigration Law work diligently on our clients' asylum cases, fighting for the American dream of a new beginning free from persecution. If you or a loved one fear returning to your home country due to persecution or torture, and wish to apply for asylum in the United States, please call us today to discuss your eligibility.
