Cleary Gottlieb successfully represented Mr. R, a citizen of India, in his application for T Nonimmigrant Status (T Visa).
Mr. R was referred to the firm by Ayuda, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., which provided support throughout the process. T Visas are available to those who are or have been victims of human trafficking.
In 2011, Mr. R was fraudulently induced by his traffickers to move to the United States on the basis of an employment contract that his traffickers never intended to honor. Over the next five years, Mr. R’s traffickers coerced him to work for them against his will by psychologically and verbally abusing him, isolating him, limiting his access to food and health care, and subjecting him to debt bondage. Mr. R was able to escape his traffickers in January 2017 with the help of Ayuda and reported his traffickers to law enforcement.
Cleary filed Mr. R’s T Visa application in March 2018, and it was granted on September 23, 2019. Mr. R is now able to live and work legally in the United States and will eventually be eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence and U.S. citizenship.