What are the grounds for asylum?
In this article, we discuss the five grounds for asylum and refuge: race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
What does it mean to apply for political asylum?
What is Political Asylum? Political asylum is an application filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), that allows an applicant to seek protection from persecution in their country of nationality.
How is an asylum application filed in immigration court?
The process for seeking asylum is the same for people who are in the Immigration Court whether or not they are detained. The I-589 (asylum application) will be filed with the immigration judge and there will be an opportunity to testify and present evidence in support of the asylum case.
Who is seeking asylum in the United States?
Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng sought protection at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. With Edward Snowden seeking asylum away from the U.S. in a number of countries, including most recently Russia, where on Thursday he was granted one-year refugee status, the debate over traitor vs. political dissident is in the global spotlight.
How does human rights first work with asylum seekers?
Human Rights First works with asylum-seekers at all levels of the system. A person who meets the definition of a refugee can apply for asylum in various ways, depending on that person’s immigration status at the time they decide to apply.
What is Political Asylum? Political asylum is an application filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), that allows an applicant to seek protection from persecution in their country of nationality.
How do you get asylum in the United States?
The two ways of obtaining asylum in the United States are through the affirmative process and defensive process. To obtain asylum through the affirmative asylum process you must be physically present in the United States. You may apply for asylum status regardless of how you arrived in the United States or your current immigration status.
How does the affirmative asylum process work in the US?
In an affirmative asylum process, an USCIS officer decides whether the individual will be granted asylum in the U.S. If USCIS denies an asylum application in the affirmative asylum process after the individual’s visa has expired, he or she is referred for removal but can utilize the defensive asylum process to renew his or her request for asylum.
How does an immigration judge decide if you are eligible for asylum?
The immigration judge then decides whether you are eligible for asylum. If the immigration judge finds you eligible, they will grant asylum. If the immigration judge finds you ineligible for asylum, they will determine whether you are eligible for any other forms of relief from removal.