Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 627 6 Live and Love in Peace In Russia, gays are often bullied and beaten merely because of their sexual orientation, and some haveactuallybeenkilled,whilepoliceturnablindeye.Suchwastheplightof“Alexei”and“Mikhail,” gay men from Russia who, in fear for their lives, were seeking asylum in the United States. In Russia, Alexei and Mikhail were acquaintances. Mikhail fled to the United States in 2005 to escape an abusive relationship and persecution. For Alexei, the culmination of years of abuse came when he was kidnapped, beaten, and left unconscious by relatives of his partner. To escape almost certain death, Alexei fled to the United States in 2009. The two men reconnected in New York City, where they fell in love and married on July 24, 2011, the day that same-sex marriage was legally recognized in New York. But the couple’s troubles were far from over. Mikhail had never taken the steps to seek asylum and Alexei had lost valuable time and money working with an impostor attorney who didn’t file the necessary papers. Without asylum, the couple would be deported back to Russia, where they would risk grave danger. Immigration Equality, an LGBTQ immigrant rights organization, referred the case to a team of attorneys led by Terry McMahon. Terry’s team started with Alexei’s case, which was stronger. If Alexei could win, Mikhail would qualify for derivative asylum as Alexei’s husband. The attorneys argued for clemency based on “changed circumstances.” The team conducted interviews, drafted affidavits, and secured evidence that verified the abuses Alexei endured in Russia. Attorney Rachel Gholston, along with project analysts Kees Thompson and Reeva Dua, conducted research on Russia’s worsening conditions for LGBTQ individuals. Attorney Elizabeth Wilkinson prepared the clients for the Immigration Court proceedings, and former Mintz Levin attorneys Kelly Graf and Chris Difo provided valuable assistance. The Mintz Levin team argued that Russia’s hostility toward homosexuality had demonstrably worsened since the couple’s flight. They also argued that a fake immigration attorney had swindled Alexei. On top of that, the team asked the court to recognize that deportation would effectively dissolve Alexei and Mikhail’s marriage and undoubtedly worsen Alexei’s mental health, which was compromised by the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) he had devel- oped following the severe abuse he survived in Russia. Despite tough questioning, Alexei held up under pressure. “He was respectful and articulate and remained steeled, though he had every reason to fall apart,” said Terry. After the questioning, the judge and government lawyer quickly agreed to grant asylum. The shift in energy was palpable as it dawned on Alexei that, from that day forward, he could live in peace. “These are two great guys,” Terry said. “To make sure that they are able to live and love in peace was really gratifying.” “We are extraordinarily grateful to Mintz Levin for generously committing time and resources to help our clients, who are fighting to escape horrific violence and persecution. Terry McMahon and his team are doing truly lifesaving work.” Piibe Jogi Staff Attorney Immigration Equality