Cleary Gottlieb won political asylum for pro bono client Mr. E, who fled Cameroon in January 2004 after suffering persecution at the hands of Cameroonian authorities on account of his membership in a dissident political organization and his attempt to form an anti-corruption organization. U.S. Immigration Judge John Bryant granted Mr. E asylum on October 19.
Cleary began representing Mr. E after his application for asylum was referred to immigration court following an initial interview with the Asylum Office. The Cleary team helped prepare Mr. E’s affidavit, prepared a legal brief and country conditions documentation, coordinated a medical evaluation and affidavit, and gathered a number of affidavits and other evidence in support of Mr. E’s application. At the hearing, Cleary attorneys presented opening and closing arguments and conducted an extensive direct examination of the client to allow him to present his story to the court.