The Asylumist is about political asylum in the United States -- a forum for discussion about the law, policy, and politics of asylum.
Expedited #EAD Renewals for Health Care Workers
Healthcare workers are now eligible to expedite their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewals. https://www.asylumist.com/2022/01/19/expedited-ead-renewals-for-health-care-workers/
On December 28, 2021, USCIS announced that. “if you are a healthcare worker who has a pending Employment Authorization Document […]
Want to Save Democracy? End #Asylum at the Southern #Border
The border has been a recruiting tool for Republicans and the far right for too long. We on the Left now have to make a choice–continue banging our heads against the same wall, or accept that we can’t get everything we want and that sacrifices are needed to help defuse the existential threat to our democracy. https://www.asylumist.com/2022/01/11/want-to-save-democracy-end-asylum-at-the-southern-border/
As an attorney who represents asylum seekers, I believe our country has a moral duty to help those coming to […]
2021: It Could Have Been Worse
There’s never a lack of bad news to report in #asylum world, but it’s almost the New Year, and so I’d rather focus on the positive. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/12/31/2021-it-could-have-been-worse/
There’s never a lack of bad news to report in asylum world, but it’s almost the New Year, and so […]
Circularity in Particular Social Group Decisions
This post is by Jim Feroli, an attorney with Immigration Legal Services (ILS) of Catholic Charities, Washington, DC.
I’m a movie fan. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend the film #Gladiator. Russell Crowe stars as Maximus, a Roman general who is betrayed, sold into slavery, and forced to fight in gladiator matches. As an immigration lawyer, I wondered would Maximus, as a slave in ancient Rome, qualify for membership in a particular social group? https://www.asylumist.com/2021/12/22/circularity-in-particular-social-group-decisions/
This post is by Jim Feroli, an attorney with Immigration Legal Services (ILS) of Catholic Charities, Washington, DC. He has […]
After the #Asylum Grant: Asylee Benefits
Asylees are eligible for a variety of refugee benefits and services following their asylum grant. Learn more about these in this guest post by Amy Doring from #HIAS. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/12/15/after-the-asylum-grant-asylee-benefits/
This post is by Amy Doring, the Asylee Outreach Specialist at HIAS Headquarters in Maryland. The HIAS Asylee Outreach Project […]
No One Should Have to Wait Years for the U.S. to Consider Their #Asylum Claim
This article is by Andrea Barron, the advocacy program manager at the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (#TASSC), based in Washington, DC. It was originally published in the Washington Post. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/12/08/no-one-should-have-to-wait-years-for-the-u-s-to-consider-their-asylum-claim/
This article is by Andrea Barron, the advocacy program manager at the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International, based […]
#CancelCulture in Immigration Court
Individual Hearings in Immigration Court are life-changing events that profoundly effect respondents and their families. So what happens when the Individual Hearing is canceled? https://www.asylumist.com/2021/12/01/cancel-culture-in-immigration-court/
For “respondents” (non-citizens in removal proceedings) and their lawyers, Individual Hearings in Immigration Court are a big deal. Evidence must […]
A Tale of the First Thanksgiving – or – The Beginner’s Guide to Immigration Bureaucracy
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the first #Thanksgiving, celebrated in Massachusetts in 1621. To commemorate this grand occasion, researchers here at the Asylumist have unearthed the original immigration file of one of the Pilgrim families. Here, for the first time, is that story. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/11/24/a-tale-of-the-first-thanksgiving-or-the-beginners-guide-to-immigration-bureaucracy/
Asylum for Capitol Rioters
I suppose it was inevitable that some of the #Trump supporters charged in the attack on our #Capitol would seek #asylum overseas. Here, I want to discuss whether such people are eligible for asylum under international law. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/11/17/asylum-for-capitol-rioters/
I suppose it was inevitable that some of the Trump supporters charged in the attack on our Capitol would seek […]
Ten Suggestions for David Neal, the New EOIR Director
Luckily for the new Director, I am here to offer my own suggestions for #EOIR. These are my ten great ideas for EOIR: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/11/10/ten-suggestions-for-david-neal-the-new-eoir-director/
On September 24, 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that David Neal would take over as Director of the Executive […]
Looking for Fraud in All the Wrong Places
Maybe you’ve heard this old joke–
One night, a policeman sees a drunk man searching for something under a streetlight and asks what he has lost. The man says he lost his keys and they both look under the streetlight together. After a few minutes the policeman asks if the drunk is sure he lost the keys here. The drunk replies, no, he lost them in the park. Surprised, the policeman asks why he is searching here, and the drunk replies, “This is where the light is.”
#Asylum interviews these days remind me of this joke. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/11/02/looking-for-fraud-in-all-the-wrong-places/
Maybe you’ve heard this old joke– One night, a policeman sees a drunk man searching for something under a streetlight […]
Death by Bureaucracy
What’s it like to practice #immigration law these days? Spoiler alert: Not good. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/10/21/death-by-bureaucracy/
What’s it like to practice immigration law these days? For a case in Immigration Court, we write the affidavit, gather […]
#Asylum for #Afghan Parolees (and How It Could Affect All Asylum Seekers)
How will the system be effected when tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees file for asylum? https://www.asylumist.com/2021/10/14/asylum-for-afghan-parolees-and-how-it-could-affect-all-asylum-seekers/
Even before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, that country was suffering a humanitarian disaster. In 2020, about 2.5 million […]
Trump May Be Gone, but the U.S. Asylum System Is Still Broken
Basileus Zeno, a Syrian asylum seeker and the Karl Loewenstein Fellow and Visiting Lecturer in Political Science at Amherst College, writes about his experience as an asylum seeker in the United States. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/10/07/trump-may-be-gone-but-the-u-s-asylum-system-is-still-broken/
This article is by Basileus Zeno, a Syrian asylum seeker and the Karl Loewenstein Fellow and Visiting Lecturer in Political […]
The Trumpian Logic of the #Biden #Asylum Policy
Given all the negative externalities, USCIS should more comprehensively review the effects of #LIFO to determine whether it is accomplishing what they think it is accomplishing. If not, we should return to #FIFO, which was more fair and gave people more predictability and more hope. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/09/29/the-trumpian-logic-of-the-biden-asylum-policy/
This summer, pro-immigrant Representative Gerry Connelly (D-Virginia) wrote to USCIS inquiring about the affirmative asylum backlog. The USCIS response is […]
The #Asylumist Panel Discussion
Earlier this month, I participated in a panel discussion about the U.S. asylum system and my new book, The Asylumist: How to Seek Asylum in the United States and Keep Your Sanity. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/09/22/the-asylumist-panel-discussion/
https://youtu.be/pGr-ohoRD_I
Seeking asylum in the United States can be a long, difficult, and confusing process. Even if you have a lawyer to represent you, navigating the asylum system...
Congress Addresses the Asylum Office Backlog
In April, I wrote about our efforts to lobby Congress for help with the affirmative #asylum #backlog. Those efforts have finally born some fruit. Last week, forty Democratic members of #Congress wrote a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Ur Jaddou, the Director of USCIS. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/09/15/congress-addresses-the-asylum-office-backlog/
In April, I wrote about our efforts to lobby Congress for help with the affirmative asylum backlog. Those efforts have […]
Reflections and Advice from a Recently-Retired Asylum Officer
Allen Schwartz retired after 23 years at the #Asylum Office. Here, he offers some advice and observations for asylum seekers: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/09/08/reflections-and-advice-from-a-recently-retired-asylum-officer/
This article is by Allen Schwartz, a former Asylum Officer who now offers consulting services to asylum seekers and attorneys. […]
Join me on September 9, 2021 in Washington, DC for a panel discussion and fundraiser for my new book, The Asylumist: How to Seek Asylum in the United States and Keep Your Sanity. All profits will benefit Ayuda, a DC-area non-profit that assists asylum seekers and immigrants. This event will also be live-steamed. Learn more here: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/08/30/asylumist-panel-discussion-on-september-9-2021/
Please join me for a live event and fund raiser at Immigrant Food on September 9, 2021 at 6:00 PM […]
Asylumist Panel Discussion on September 9, 2021
Please join me for a live event and fund raiser at Immigrant Food on September 9, 2021 at 6:00 PM in Washington, DC. The event is sponsored by #Ayuda, a DC-area non-profit that assists immigrants and asylum seekers. Aside from yours truly, speakers will include Immigration Judge (retired) Lisa Dornell, Ayuda Legal Director Laurie Ball Cooper, and torture survivor and advocate Tensay Kalile. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/08/30/asylumist-panel-discussion-on-september-9-2021/
Please join me for a live event and fund raiser at Immigrant Food on September 9, 2021 at 6:00 PM […]
#Afghanistan Through My Clients’ Eyes
This week I attended an #asylum interview for my #Afghan client who had been targeted by the Taliban. Learn more here (including some limited resources to help people in Afghanistan): https://www.asylumist.com/2021/08/18/afghanistan-through-my-clients-eyes/
This week I attended an asylum interview for my Afghan client. He was a high-ranking government worker and a member […]
Ten Suggestions for the New #USCIS Director, Ur Jaddou
Here are 10 great ideas to help USCIS improve the #asylum process and fix some “asylum adjacent” issues, as well. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/08/11/ten-suggestions-for-the-new-uscis-director-ur-jaddou/
USCIS has a new Director. Ur Mendoza Jaddou is the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and an Iraqi immigrant. She […]
“Expedited Removal” and “Fair Processing of Asylum Applications” Cannot Coexist
Either we have a system to remove new arrivals expeditiously or we have a system to fairly adjudicate #asylum applications at the border. We cannot have both. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/08/04/expedited-removal-and-fair-processing-of-asylum-applications-cannot-coexist/
“Expedited Removal” and “Fair Processing of Asylum Applications” Cannot Coexist
Either we have a system to remove new arrivals expeditiously or we have a system to fairly adjudicate #asylum applications at the border. We cannot have both. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/08/04/expedited-removal-and-fair-processing-of-asylum-applications-cannot-coexist/
Meet the Olympic Refugee Team
The Refugee Team consists of 29 athletes, representing 11 countries. #RefugeeOlympicTeam https://www.asylumist.com/2021/07/28/meet-the-olympic-refugee-team/
In the world today, there are about 82.4 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes. If these […]
Immigration Songs
It’s summer and I’m feeling lazy. So instead of a regular post, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite #songs related to #asylum and/or #immigration. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/07/21/immigration-songs/
It’s summer and I’m feeling lazy. So instead of a regular post, I thought I’d share a few of my […]
Chaos in Court
A few months ago, I wrote that what applicants and lawyers need from the #Biden Administration is predictability. Unless we know what to expect from “the system” and when to expect it, people cannot properly prepare their cases or have them fairly adjudicated. Unfortunately, what we have been seeing recently is the opposite of predictability–it is chaos: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/07/14/chaos-in-court/
A few months ago, I wrote that what applicants and lawyers need from the Biden Administration is predictability. Unless we […]
The Art of Denying Asylum
Preparing an #asylum case is a bit like building a fortress. You make the walls as strong as you can, re-enforce weak points, and hope for the best. Here’s my theory: An adjudicator who wants to deny asylum can deny asylum. Some cases may be harder to deny than others, but a smart decision-maker can punch holes in even the strongest and most well-prepared asylum case. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/07/07/the-art-of-denying-asylum/
Preparing an asylum case is a bit like building a fortress. You make the walls as strong as you can, […]
Back to Bad
Last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued two decisions reversing Trump-era cases that limited #asylum eligibility. Here, we’ll discuss those cases and how the AG’s decision will affect asylum seekers. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/06/23/back-to-bad/
Last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued two decisions reversing Trump-era cases that limited asylum eligibility. Here, we’ll discuss those […]
The Asylumist: How to Seek Asylum in the United States and Keep Your Sanity is the #1 new release on Amazon for Immigration Law. Also, it is free for people with access to Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/Asylumist-Asylum-United-States-Sanity-ebook/dp/B096TFHVTD/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=asylumist&qid=1624026859&s=books&sr=1-1
The Asylumist: How to Seek Asylum in the United States and Keep Your Sanity
Join Me for an Online Conference about the U.S. Asylum Crisis and What You Can Do About It
The Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (#TASSC) International will hold its annual conference and advocacy days from June 23 to 26, 2021. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Asylum Crisis in the USA.” Please join me for this important event. Also, in support of the conference, all proceeds from the sale of my book, The Asylumist: How to Seek Asylum in the United States and Keep Your Sanity, will be donated to TASSC: #JuneSurvivorsWeek #JSW2021 #JSW https://www.asylumist.com/2021/06/16/join-me-for-an-online-conference-about-the-u-s-asylum-crisis-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
The Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International will hold its annual conference and advocacy days from June 23 […]
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