On any given day, thousands of men, women and children are detained by the Department of Homeland Security. They include asylum-seekers and survivors of horrific abuse. Most of them will face years in prison. Only ten percent of them will go before a judge with the help of an attorney.

Masoud Hosseini was one of these men. He was behind bars for four years. He lost his business, his marriage and 35 pounds. Four of his teeth rotted. He was never charged with a crime.

More than a year ago Masoud's case was referred to Northwest Immigrant Rights Project as a case of first impression related to the Convention Against Torture. On September 28, 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the Board of Immigration Appeals decision and awarded relief under the Convention Against Torture. After four years, he was released from detention.