Greenlee Gets Win for Pro Bono Client

Washington, D.C. attorney Maggie Greenlee successfully obtained a U-visa for her pro bono client on January 6, 2010.

Greenlee's client, an El Salvadoran immigrant, was a long-term victim of domestic violence who was subject to a Final Order of Removal. To prevent her client from being deported, Greenlee simultaneously re-opened the removal proceedings before the Baltimore Immigration Court and submitted a U-visa application to the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS).

Successfully, Greenlee argued the removal proceedings should be re-opened because her client was not notified the proceedings had taken place; thus she could not be ordered removed in absentia. The Immigration Judge granted a new hearing date for April 2010.

In order to obtain the U-visa, Greenlee showed her client (1) suffered substantial physical or mental abuse from criminal activity; (2) had information regarding the criminal activity; (3) assisted government officials in the investigation or prosecution of such criminal activity; and (4) that the criminal activity violated U.S. law.

As a result of the U-visa approval, she will no longer be subject to removal proceedings and will be eligible for employment in the United States. U-visas are designed to grant victims of violent crimes temporary legal status and work eligibility for up to four years. After three years, she will be eligible for permanent legal residency.