Immigration Clinic Students Win Cancelation of Removal
Monica Feltz '10, Susana Solano '10, and Karli Bobus '11, working under the direction of UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic Supervising Attorney Amagda Pérez, successfully represented a young mother in her application for Special Rule Cancelation of Removal on March 18.
The students had been working with the client and her mother for about year, writing detailed declarations, a pre-hearing brief, and supporting documents to demonstrate the extreme cruelty the client suffered as a child, when she was subjected to cruelty and abuse by her father, as well as the hardship the client's children, who are U.S. citizens, and mother, who is a legal permanent resident, would suffer if she was removed.
Feltz prepared the client, who is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder as a result of her father's abuse. Solano prepared the client's mother, a key witness who testified regarding the physical and psychological abuse her ex-husband imposed on her and the children. Bobus worked with Dr. Yvette Flores, a licensed psychologist and Professor of Chicano/a Studies at UC Davis, who served as an expert witness.
Due to the quality of the written material presented, the Immigration Judge offered to have the detailed declarations submitted in lieu of testimony so as to not re-traumatize the client and her mother, and granted cancelation of removal. The judge also expressed gratitude to the students for taking the case pro bono and congratulated them on their excellent work.
"All three students demonstrated great respect for the court, professionalism, compassion for their client and family members, and responsiveness to the Court's instructions," said Professor Pérez.
Professor Pérez said thanks were due to Immigration Attorney Johnny Walker of Schoenleber and Waltermire for serving as a mock hearing judge, providing valuable feedback, and helping to prepare the client for her hearing; to Immigrations Clinic alumnae Kirsten Hill '04 and Erin Hernandez '08 for their technical assistance on the brief; and Dr. Flores for her pro bono work in evaluating the client and providing expert testimony.
UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic