Securing Asylum for Afghanistan Students from Asian University for Women

Jenner & Block lawyers from across the firm represented a cohort of Afghanistan students from the Asian University for Women that caught one of the last flights out of Kabul as the city fell to the Taliban in 2021. These women were forced to flee their homes in Afghanistan fearing for their lives because of their gender, ethnicity, or political opinion opposing the Taliban regime, among other things. Most of them experienced acts of violence and persecution during several harrowing attempts at escape.

On October 17, our final client from the group received notice that she had been officially granted asylum in the United States. Now, all four students have been granted asylum and are free to live their lives without fear of persecution or danger.

The different teams that represented these women include Partner Michael Ross, Associate Jessica Sawadogo, and former Associate Jonathan Steinberg; Partner Reid Schar and Associates Sophia Cai and Tal Ratner Solovey; Client Contracts Counsel Michael DeMar, Associate Emily Merrifield, and former Partner Gay Sigel; Associate Zach Cohen, who led the efforts for his client with support from Partners Laurie Edelstein and Todd C. Toral, and Associate Sam White.

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

Securing Asylum for Afghanistan Students from Asian University for Women

Jenner & Block lawyers from across the firm represented a cohort of Afghanistan students from the Asian University for Women that caught one of the last flights out of Kabul as the city fell to the Taliban in 2021. These women were forced to flee their homes in Afghanistan fearing for their lives because of their gender, ethnicity, or political opinion opposing the Taliban regime, among other things. Most of them experienced acts of violence and persecution during several harrowing attempts at escape.

On October 17, our final client from the group received notice that she had been officially granted asylum in the United States. Now, all four students have been granted asylum and are free to live their lives without fear of persecution or danger.

The different teams that represented these women include Partner Michael Ross, Associate Jessica Sawadogo, and former Associate Jonathan Steinberg; Partner Reid Schar and Associates Sophia Cai and Tal Ratner Solovey; Client Contracts Counsel Michael DeMar, Associate Emily Merrifield, and former Partner Gay Sigel; Associate Zach Cohen, who led the efforts for his client with support from Partners Laurie Edelstein and Todd C. Toral, and Associate Sam White.

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

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