We came across immigration attorney Boris Palant when looking for a professional lawyer that does high-quality work and has a lot of experience in asylum and deportation defense. While he is an excellent lawyer, he had many other cases at the time and couldn’t take on another one. He recommended that we hire his partner, Irina Lust.
I initially filed asylum pro se, and my case was denied at the interview. Irina became our attorney of record in removal proceedings in court.
My family and I are Baptists, and it was dangerous for us to live in our home country of Russia because of the constant threats and harassment we faced when people discovered our beliefs. As a result, we fled Russia and came to the United States in search of freedom and political shelter so that we could do what we deeply believe in without being judged or constantly being threatened and harmed.
Our process of getting political asylum lasted about eight years, including the interview and the subsequent removal proceedings in the immigration court. Unfortunately, the hardships of getting political asylum were that our case for asylum was denied at the affirmative interview with the immigration officer. As a result, my case was referred to the judge, and I was put in the removal proceedings with the immigration court.
Irina was the one handling our removal case. Irina has a lot of expertise, and her work and assistance were excellent. She submitted additional documents in our case to the court to strengthen our case and worked on time and professionally. As a real professional, she assisted in reviewing and revising our statement
She helped us prepare for immigration court by asking real and court-like questions, and she pushed us to be well prepared and ready for everything that might happen during the individual hearing (trial). Irina was with us at court hearings and had complete control of the situation. She was confident and capable of guiding us in the right direction and assisting us in winning our case.
With her expertise, we were able to win our case in court and gain asylum. We are very happy with the outcome and the firm of Palant & Lust, PLLC.