Gibson Dunn Pro Bono Newsletter Los Angeles Office

Gibson Dunn Secures Grant of Deferral of Removal and Release from Detention for Client Under CAT

After many years of litigation, the firm’s client Mr. Garcia recently received a grant of deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).  Mr. Garcia, originally from Mexico, suffered harrowing experiences at the hands of the police and other bad actors in his home country.  An Immigration Judge (IJ) had originally denied Mr. Garcia CAT relief and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) later affirmed.  Gibson Dunn took over as counsel when the case was on appeal to Ninth Circuit.  San Francisco associate Elizabeth Dooley represented Mr. Garcia with Orange County partner Blaine Evanson supervising.  Following briefing, Elizabeth argued the case before the Ninth Circuit, and the Court subsequently issued a unanimous decision reversing the IJ’s and BIA’s denials of CAT relief.  The Ninth Circuit remanded for further proceedings and Gibson Dunn remained as counsel.  On April 2, 2019, during a hearing attended by both Elizabeth and Mr. Garcia at Otay Mesa detention facility in San Diego, the Immigration Judge granted Mr. Garcia deferral of removal under CAT.  After more than five years in detention, Mr. Garcia has now been released and is allowed to remain in the United States.