Winston Secures Long-Awaited Asylum for Ugandan Refugee

After four years, which included COVID-19-related delays, our client was finally granted asylum and is one step closer to reuniting with her husband and daughter and beginning a new life with her family in the United States.

Our client was first targeted by the Ugandan government in 2011 after she organized a blood drive in the wake of the government’s violent crackdowns on political opponents of the Museveni regime. Following years of intimidation and threatening phone calls, she was kidnapped, beaten, sexually assaulted, and left for dead. After spending a year in hiding, separated from her newborn daughter, she fled to safety in the United States.

Upon arriving in the U.S. in 2018, our client applied for asylum but was deemed not credible and was placed in defensive asylum proceedings. Winston & Strawn attorneys assisted her with her asylum claim and sought withholding of removal and relief under the United Nations’ Convention Against Torture treaty.

On November 4, 2022, our client had her merits hearing before immigration Judge Marc B. Stahl. In court, Chicago Associate Michael Trucco led the Winston team with assistance from Chicago Associate Partick Murphy. Following the merits hearing, the court granted asylum to our client and waived the right to appeal.

The Winston team that worked on this matter includes Chicago Partners Kelly Mannion Ellis and Joe Motto along with Chicago Associate Michael Trucco.

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