Transgender Brazilian Torture Survivor Secures Right to Stay in U.S.
http://transgenderlawcenter.org/new/index.php/updates/press-releases/transgender-brazilian-torture-survivor-secures-right-to-stay-in-us/104Federal Judge Issues Order Granting Withholding of Removal, Allowing Transgender Immigrant to Remain Lawfully in the United States.
San Francisco – The Transgender Law Center and Kirkland & Ellis LLP secured an affirmative decision to withhold deportation of a Brazilian torture survivor, allowing Leah (not her real name) to legally stay in the United States after previous failed immigration attempts.
Born a man in Brazil, Leah transitioned to live full time as a woman in the 1990s. After prior deportations, she was beaten and tortured by Brazilian police officers and then incarcerated in a police-run house of prostitution in Rio de Janeiro. Leah finally escaped out of a third story window and returned to San Francisco for sanctuary, where she became an active member of San Francisco's transgender community. Beginning in January 2008 Leah was held in custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Santa Clara County Men's Jail in San Jose.
