Thread by @sshermanstokes

today an #immigration judge told our @BU_Law clinic students, "you’ve done a tremendous job - this family is very lucky to have been represented by you & to have such detailed & excellent representation." then she granted our client #asylum from two different countries. thread 1/

our client & two generations of her family (all of whom were also granted #asylum today) fled horrific violence in the northern triangle - including childhood abuse, trafficking, gang violence & domestic violence. much of it inflicted by our gov't: thehill.com/opinion/immigr… 2/

despite the compelling circumstances, this family still needed 400 pgs of evidence, traumatizing forensic/psych evaluations & had to prove they are "credible." this required incredibly dedicated @BU_Law clinic students, working long hours on the factual & legal components 3/

but what if we approached asylum differently? what if we presumed #credibility, appointed counsel to everyone, & placed the burden on the gov't? what if we took affirmative responsibility for the harm we have inflicted across the globe & made sincere efforts at repair? 4/

i am extraordinarily relieved that this courageous family won #asylum. and i am so proud of the compassion, tenacity and hard work demonstrated by fierce @BU_Law students. but the hoops of re-traumatization we make #asylum seekers and #refugees jump through are unconscionable. 5/