O’Melveny Helps Reunite Three Children Facing Deportation

An O’Melveny team helped three children facing deportation to El Salvador be reunited with their family and remain in the US while pursuing asylum claims.

In Mexico, the children—ages 9, 14, and 16—and their family were targeted by gangs and fled El Salvador with their mother. They hoped to be reunited with their father, who had settled in Maryland. After being summarily denied entry through the “Remain in Mexico” policy, being subject to removal, and experiencing violence in Mexico, the children crossed the border as unaccompanied minors. Contrary to law, the government refused to make efforts to reunite the children with their father, so an O’Melveny team—working alongside the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and the Justice Action Center—filed a lawsuit against the government demanding the children’s immediate release and reunification with their family. After an emergency hearing, the government agreed to reunite the children with their father, but they remained under threat of deportation to El Salvador.

Following multiple proceedings, the Board of Immigration Appeals agreed to reopen the children’s case and terminate the removal orders, providing a path to potential asylum in the United States. O’Melveny separately represents the children in those asylum proceedings.