After nearly two years of extraordinary efforts and creative advocacy, the Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Clinic (IRAC) at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law) helped reunite an Afghan teenager with her parents and eight siblings in the United States.

The Taliban’s return to power during the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan caused turmoil and created great risk for those who had provided aid to the U.S. The young woman’s father had assisted the American military for years, so he and his family were evacuated to safety in the United States. Unfortunately, the teen was inadvertently excluded from the evacuation paperwork and could not join her family. She lived in great fear as the Taliban targeted families of those who had provided support to U.S. operations.

Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor Jocelyn Dyer, who supervised the IRAC students working on the teenager’s case, said, “From the moment we met these clients, we knew we had to do everything possible to reunite them with their daughter given the danger she was in and the pain the entire family was suffering from due to their separation.”

Dyer explained that upon taking the case to help reunite the separated family, “the IRAC students sprung to action, employing legal research and problem-solving skills. Evacuations are not a standard part of U.S. immigration law, and the students were up to the challenge of exploring something new.”

The IRAC team explored numerous legal and non-legal avenues to overcome the hurdles obstructing the young woman’s path to safety in the U.S. While the U.S. government approved a family reunification petition relatively quickly, the young woman had no way to travel from her Afghan village to an interview site abroad to conduct the next steps in the process.

IRAC’s relentless efforts included exploring the substantive areas of immigration law that could assist her—ranging from attempting to amend the paperwork that allowed her family to arrive in the U.S. to seeking her entry in the U.S. as a refugee. IRAC’s work included significant non-legal efforts, as well. These included seeking support from United States Senator Chris Van Hollen, petitioning multiple offices within the U.S. Department of State, and exploring opportunities to work with non-profit organizations on the ground helping with clandestine evacuation efforts.

Thanks to IRAC’s tireless advocacy and collaboration, the young woman eventually received a rare seat on an evacuation flight to a third country. There, she received approval to enter the United States as a refugee. After several months in a refugee camp, she was finally able to reunite with her family in Maryland.

Once she arrived in the U.S., she, her family, and several members of the IRAC team had the opportunity to meet with Senator Van Hollen, whose office tirelessly supported this reunification. Dyer said that the student attorneys’ “persistence and zealous advocacy helped us achieve a great result for our clients. Celebrating the success with Senator Van Hollen was very special."

Student attorneys Alicia Berard, Claire Whitman, Amy Whitsel, Zoe Spirgel, Kaya DeRose, and Reid Dvorak supported the young woman’s case between 2021 and 2023. Catholic Law Professors Stacy Brustin and Sarah Duggin also provided support.

Berard said, “The most memorable part of this case was our client’s positive attitude despite her experience of being left behind in Afghanistan at such a young age. Some of my clients have experienced trauma and come into our meetings with a feeling of defeat and hopelessness. But she maintained an optimistic demeanor throughout the whole process.”

Reflecting on her experience in IRAC, Berard said that her client “showed me that regardless of the unimaginable hardships she endured, she is able to persevere. Working with her furthered my passion for immigration and refugee law, and affirmed my belief that displaced persons are extraordinarily resilient.”

With their client safely on U.S. soil, IRAC is now actively supporting the next stage of her journey: obtaining a green card and, eventually, citizenship. This legal process will provide her with a secure foundation as she builds a new life in the United States.

This complex case highlighted the breadth of legal issues facing Afghan evacuees and the creativity and perseverance required to assist them. IRAC student attorneys exemplified the highest standards of client dedication, reflecting Columbus Community Legal Service’s commitment to justice and the dignity of every human person, including the most vulnerable.

Catholic Law's Columbus Community Legal Services (CCLS) provides free, high-quality legal services to individuals and families who live in the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area. Contained within CCLS are both the Families and the Law Clinic and IRAC. To learn more about CCLS, the services it offers to clients, and opportunities for law students click here.