A Milbank team helped a pro bono client become a naturalized US citizen, marking the triumphant conclusion to a nearly decade-long battle. Milbank, working with the nonprofit Tahirih Justice Center, had previously secured asylum and permanent residence status for the client and her children.
The client’s long road to US citizenship began in early 2014, when she fled a physically and emotionally abusive arranged marriage in Egypt and arrived in Virginia. She initially sought help from the Tahirih Justice Center in petitioning for asylum for herself and her children, and our team worked with her each step of the way.
Milbank prepared and submitted asylum petitions for the client and her children, which were ultimately granted. Milbank then helped secure their lawful permanent residence status, and last year prepared and submitted an application for the client’s naturalization. In early January 2023, the client successfully completed her naturalization interview and was commended by the USCIS interviewing officer for achieving 100 percent scores on the civics and English tests.
The client took her oath of allegiance at a naturalization ceremony in January 2023.
The Milbank team includes partner Andrew Leblanc and associates Julie Wolf and Truman Whitney.
The Tahirih Justice Center is a national nonprofit that has served over 30,000 immigrant survivors fleeing gender-based violence since 1997. The organization’s interdisciplinary, trauma-informed model of service is now delivered from five locations, and is committed to serving as many immigrant survivors as possible.
