SJCL Professor Gregory Olson and SJCL Student Dushawn Johnson.
In addition to the roughly three dozen naturalizations the New American Legal Clinic (NALC) completes every quarter (assisting legal permanent residents to become citizens), NALC also provides other services to the community. Among these, students working in the NALC at San Joaquin College of Law had the opportunity to assist a foreign national in applying for political asylum.
A.T. was born in northern Syria and at the age of 12, was sent to Venice, Italy to receive a formal Catholic education. A.T. successfully graduated with a Ph.D. in Armenological Sciences. Based upon his education and linguistics (A.T. speaks five languages), he sought employment with the Syrian government. A.T. believes his application was denied based on his “western” education, race and religion.
Everything unraveled for A.T. around March 2011 during the “Arab Spring.” The Syrian Secret Service (SSS) became increasingly diligent and more violent towards any perceived threat within Syria. A.T. was perceived as such a threat. He was Armenian, Christian, educated and not affiliated with the Baath political party.
In 2012, A.T. travelled to the United States and sought asylum based upon his fear of religious and ethnic persecution if he were to return to Syria. After approval of his asylum application, A.T. was able to send for his wife and three children to join him in the United States.
A.T. sought the services of the NALC to prepare and submit the Adjustment of Status application for him and his family. Students Dushawn Johnson (3L) and Leila Alamri-Kassim (2L) interviewed A.T. and prepared all the necessary documents. Once A.T.’s application and supporting documentation had been reviewed and approved by NALC Professor’s Jessica Smith Bobadilla and Gregory Olson, the application will be submitted to United States Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS.)
If A.T. and his family are successful in their Adjustment of Status application, they will receive Permanent Resident status and be eligible for U.S. citizenship in five years.
If you have a client or know of someone who might qualify for NALC’s free services, please contact us at (559) 326-1553.