A Fight for Safety Won Just in Time

S. fled Ghana with one goal: to stay alive. As an openly gay man, he faced fear and the constant threat of violence. He came to the United States hoping for safety—and a chance to live freely.

Thankfully, S. found LSNYC who, along with pro bono firm Gibson Dunn, helped him file for asylum, apply for work authorization and for public benefits while his application moved forward.

At last, his court date was set for February 2026. Then, just two days before the hearing, the Department of Homeland Security attempted to shut down S.’s case completely. DHS argued that S. should be barred from seeking asylum and immediately removed to Uganda — a country where everyday threats to LGBT individuals are well documented. 

The burden then fell on S.’s legal team to convince the judge to deny DHS’s motion and allow his case to go to a hearing. The motion was a success. The judge denied the DHS motion and found that S. had met the burden required to move forward with his case. 

S. will now have his day of court as he seeks to become an American.