The clinic assisted W with obtaining legal status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). A VAWA petition is a form of immigration relief that allows noncitizens married to abusive United States Citizens to leave their abusers and still maintain legal status. A male victim of spousal abuse, W was in danger of being deported to Afghanistan because his abusive wife withdrew his green card application and he was charged with being in the U.S. unlawfully.

Meredith Johnson (’12) and Julia Rabinovich (’12) worked with W to prepare his application, conducting extensive client meetings, interviewing witnesses, researching legal options, and engaging in detailed fact development. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services approved W’s application on December 11, 2012.