Asylum Granted for Afghan Family After More Than 13 Years of Advocacy

After more than 13 years of advocacy, Jenner & Block successfully secured asylum for pro bono client Asad Mangal and his family, bringing safety and stability to a family that has endured appalling hardship.

In 2008, Asad was kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taliban while driving American journalist David Rohde to an interview in Afghanistan. He endured eight months of captivity—including beatings and continuous death threats—until he was able to escape. Yet even after he returned to Kabul, Asad and his family lived under constant threat of violence and, in 2016, the Taliban caused grave harm to his family members.

Jenner began representing Asad Mangal in 2012 and secured his family’s arrival in the US in 2017, though asylum remained out of reach for seven additional years. On September 29, 2025, Asad and his family finally received the news they had waited so long to hear: the granting of asylum in the United States of America.

The team included Associate Amit Patel, Department Counsel Edward P. McKenna, and Partner Laura MacDonald, supervised by former Co-Managing Partner Katya Jestin and New York Office Managing Partner Tony Barkow—among many other team members over the years.

© 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.

Asylum Granted for Afghan Family After More Than 13 Years of Advocacy

After more than 13 years of advocacy, Jenner & Block successfully secured asylum for pro bono client Asad Mangal and his family, bringing safety and stability to a family that has endured appalling hardship.

In 2008, Asad was kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taliban while driving American journalist David Rohde to an interview in Afghanistan. He endured eight months of captivity—including beatings and continuous death threats—until he was able to escape. Yet even after he returned to Kabul, Asad and his family lived under constant threat of violence and, in 2016, the Taliban caused grave harm to his family members.

Jenner began representing Asad Mangal in 2012 and secured his family’s arrival in the US in 2017, though asylum remained out of reach for seven additional years. On September 29, 2025, Asad and his family finally received the news they had waited so long to hear: the granting of asylum in the United States of America.

The team included Associate Amit Patel, Department Counsel Edward P. McKenna, and Partner Laura MacDonald, supervised by former Co-Managing Partner Katya Jestin and New York Office Managing Partner Tony Barkow—among many other team members over the years.

© 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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