The firm announced today that American Gateways, one of the largest immigration legal services providers in Texas, recognized eight Baker Botts attorneys and patent agents who represented detained individuals at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center and the Limestone County Detention Center, seeking their release due to the conditions at these facilities and the increased risk of infection from COVID-19.

The following individuals were recognized:

• Valerie Barker
• Maddy Dwertman
• Ann Harwood
• Mitch Hinrichs
• Anna Mallam
• Tania Rice
• Laura Santos Bishop
• Theresa Sutton

In the newsletter, American Gateways also recognized Baker Botts’ instrumental help in drafting and submitting American Gateways’ comments opposing newly proposed asylum rules. On June 15, 2020, the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security issued a Joint Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that sets forth several proposed amendments to the regulations governing procedures for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The comments submitted by American Gateways discuss how the proposed changes conflict with international and domestic legal obligations to extend humanitarian protection to individuals fleeing persecution and highlight the devastating impact the proposed changes would have on particularly vulnerable individuals, including pro se and detained asylum seekers, women, children, and LGBT persons.

Led by Austin associate Maddy Dwertman, the Baker Botts team on this project included Joyce Banks (Houston), Leslie Buenzow (Houston), Francesca Eick (Austin), Jennifer Gasser (Houston), Raylynn Howell (Austin), Aaron Lee (San Francisco) Grace Matthews (Austin), Brandt Roessler (New York), Natalie Sanders (Palo Alto), Larissa Soboleva (Palo Alto), and Theresa Sutton (Palo Alto).  Keri Brown (Houston) was the supervising partner.

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