March 2024
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Transcending Borders Newsletter
International Protection Practice
Pro Bono Case Makes Headlines
A tragic and impactful pro bono case handled by the ACLU and GYH made headlines when NBC News published the story of Jessica Barahona-Martinez’s six-year battle to be freed from ICE detention, where she was held largely on the basis of an illegitimate INTERPOL Red Notice.
Co-Managing Partner Sandra Grossman has been fighting bogus Red Notices for more than 15 years, but she describes this case as one of the most egregious examples she has seen.
Grossman and associate attorney Ariel Rawls were able to get the Red Notice deleted in just three weeks, a process which usually takes nine months, paving the way for Ms. Barahona-Martinez’s release in 2023.
Attorneys Patrick Taurel and Ariel Rawls were instrumental parts of the legal team handling this meaningful pro bono case.
SkyNews also covered the story in detail on its podcast Dirty Work – The Misuse of Interpol Red Notices. In the podcast’s fourth episode, entitled “One of the Worse,” you hear Ms. Barahona-Martinez describe her harrowing experience in her own words. You also hear attorneys Grossman and Rawls explain the legal challenges Ms. Barahona-Martinez continues to face and the nuances of handling cases involving INTERPOL.
Grossman Speaking at Yale about Interpol Abuse
Partner Sandra Grossman and Dr. Ted Bromund are speaking at a special colloquium event for International Security Studies at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs on the topic of “Fighting INTERPOL Abuse – How to Make a Career, and a Difference, by Understanding International Organizations.”
The event is open to the Yale community. More information: Here
Original Content
Our Immigrant Stories – Yeon Me Kim
Private Bills – A Last Resort for Citizenship
By, Michael Scott, Legal Intern
While the United States accepts more immigrants than any other country in the world, many foreign nationals still have no feasible path to citizenship. When all standard immigration pathways fail, one last (and rarely successful) option exists to gain citizenship – a private bill.
Video: Attorney Hallie Cohen explains this last resort option for citizenship.
Navigating the Green Card Journey: Challenges and Recent Changes for Non-Dual Intent Statuses
Policy Updates
DED For Palestinians
On February 14th, President Biden announced that the U.S. will defer for 18-months the removal of any Palestinian, subject to some exceptions. This is known as deferred enforced departure (DED). It is similar to Temporary Protected Status (TPS), except that it is not based in regulation but, rather, is an executive action.
Firm News
GYH Welcomes New Attorneys
GYH is excited to welcome Anne Rowley as Counsel to the firm’s business immigration practice! Anne counsels clients on a variety of employment-based visa categories. She has over a decade of experience representing foreign nationals and employers in a range of immigrant and nonimmigrant matters and has supported clients in various industries, including financial services, retail, entertainment, heavy machinery, clean energy, communications technology and computer software, semiconductors, and athletics, among others.
GYH recently welcomed Marcela Villeda Sanchinelli as the newest attorney in the firm’s Bethesda office. Marcela assists clients with challenging persecutory INTERPOL Red Notices, complex inadmissibility waivers, and humanitarian relief applications, such as asylum, humanitarian parole, and temporary protected status.
GYH Launches New Website
Keen observers may have noticed that GYH updated its firm colors and logo in 2023. Early this month, GYH closed out its rebranding project with a new and improved website! Our new website more accurately reflects our firm structure and showcases the full breadth of GYH services.
Some notable changes include the addition of the International Protection Practice (IPP). IPP encompasses Interpol defense, international human rights, asylum, complex consular processing, and more. Keep an eye on our Interpol Resources and Interpol Blog for updates about Interpol reform and transnational repression.
The new site also includes an updated list of representative clients, new testimonials, and a streamlined design.
GYH Ranked in Chambers Global 2024
GYH is pleased to announce that the firm and Co-Managing Partners Becki Young and Sandra Grossman were recognized by Chambers Global 2024.
Chambers Global rankings are based on in-depth interviews with clients and attorneys to assess lawyers’ legal knowledge, experience, ability, effectiveness, and client service.
Guest Feature
Publicity for O-1 Visas
By Derek Sturman, CEO, Promo Panda
Strategic media coverage is indispensable for O-1 visa aspirants. It serves as a robust endorsement of the applicant’s exceptional status and broad recognition.
Such coverage not only demonstrates an individual’s significant contributions to their field but also satisfies key criteria of the O-1 visa application, offering tangible proof of the applicant’s extraordinary ability.
The journey to obtaining an O-1 visa comes with its financial demands. While there are a plethora of public relations firms that can help with media generation, exceptional individuals may in fact have opportunities to strategically secure their own media coverage.
And, contrary to what you may think, not all of these opportunities require significant time investment.
Here are some practical tips for achieving media visibility with minimal investment of time and resources…
