Asylumist

09/22/2021

"The Asylumist" Panel Discussion

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...

09/15/2021

Congress Addresses the Asylum Office Backlog - The Asylumist

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 […]

09/08/2021

Reflections and Advice from a Recently-Retired Asylum Officer - The Asylumist

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. […]

09/02/2021

Asylumist Panel Discussion on September 9, 2021 - The Asylumist

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 […]

08/30/2021

Asylumist Panel Discussion on September 9, 2021 - The Asylumist

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 […]

08/18/2021

Afghanistan Through My Clients' Eyes - The Asylumist

#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 […]

08/11/2021

Ten Suggestions for the New USCIS Director, Ur Jaddou - The Asylumist

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 […]

08/04/2021

“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/

07/28/2021

Meet the Olympic Refugee Team - The Asylumist

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 […]

07/21/2021

Immigration Songs - The Asylumist

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 […]

07/14/2021

Chaos in Court - The Asylumist

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 […]

07/07/2021

The Art of Denying Asylum - The Asylumist

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, […]

06/23/2021

Back to Bad - The Asylumist

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 […]

06/18/2021

The Asylumist: How to Seek Asylum in the United States and Keep Your Sanity

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

06/16/2021

Join Me for an Online Conference about the U.S. Asylum Crisis and What You Can Do About It - The Asylumist

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 […]

06/09/2021

The Return of Prosecutorial Discretion - The Asylumist

The Return of Prosecutorial Discretion

DHS/ICE has a new memo explaining who should and should not be a priority for deportation. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/06/09/the-return-of-prosecutorial-discretion/

The Trump Administration’s onslaught of anti-immigrant rule-making, combined with increased enforcement, pushed the Immigration Court backlog to new heights–there are […]

06/02/2021

Dealing with Delayed Decisions - The Asylumist

Dealing with Delayed Decisions

Based on the latest data, there are more than 22,000 #asylum cases that have been interviewed, but where the Asylum Office has not yet issued a decision. Some of these cases have been pending decisions for months or even years. What’s the reason for this post-interview delay, and what can you do if you were interviewed, but have not received a decision? https://www.asylumist.com/2021/06/02/dealing-with-delayed-decisions/

Based on the latest data (from July 2020), there are more than 22,000 asylum cases that have been interviewed, but […]

05/26/2021

Praise for the Asylumist (the Book) - The Asylumist

Praise for the Asylumist (the Book)

We’ll return to our regularly-scheduled content next week, but here, I wanted to share some (mostly) positive reviews I’ve received for my new book, The #Asylumist: How to Seek Asylum in the United States and Keep Your Sanity. Proceeds from the book will benefit asylum-related charities: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/05/26/praise-for-the-asylumist-the-book/

We’ll return to our regularly-scheduled content next week, but here, I wanted to share some (mostly) positive reviews I’ve received […]

05/18/2021

Introducing The Asylumist: The Book! - The Asylumist

My New Book!

After more than ten years writing a blog, #Asylumist.com, I would like to introduce my new book - The Asylumist: How to Seek Asylum in the United States and Keep Your Sanity. The book is designed for #asylum seekers, advocates, and anyone interested in the U.S. asylum system. Learn more here: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/05/18/introducing-the-asylumist-the-book/

When I started The Asylumist over 11 years ago, I hoped to create a forum for discussing the U.S. asylum […]

05/12/2021

My Friend Got an #Asylum Interview, But I Never Did

Here’s a question that I often hear: My friend filed for asylum after me and she already had her interview. Why didn’t I get my interview yet? As with most asylum-related questions, the answer is, it’s complicated: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/05/12/my-friend-got-an-asylum-interview-but-i-never-did/

05/05/2021

PTSD (Post Trump Stress Disorder) - The Asylumist

PTSD (Post #Trump Stress Disorder)

It’s been more than 100 days since President #Biden took office, and I have to say, I don’t think my clients or my fellow lawyers are feeling a whole lot better about the U.S. #immigration system. This gut feeling is now backed up by data, thanks to a new report from the American Immigration Council, which shows the slow pace of improvement at #USCIS. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/05/05/ptsd-post-trump-stress-disorder/

It’s been more than 100 days since President Biden took office, and I have to say, I don’t think my […]

04/28/2021

An Interview with Harvey Finkle: Documenting the New Sanctuary Movement - The Asylumist

An Interview with Harvey Finkle: Documenting the New Sanctuary Movement

In his new book, Faces of Courage: Ten years of Building Sanctuary, photographer Harvey Finkle chronicles the first ten years of the New #Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, which works to end injustices against all #immigrants, documented or otherwise. The Asylumist recently caught up with Mr. Finkle, to ask about his career, his book, and the New Sanctuary Movement: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/04/28/an-interview-with-harvey-finkle-documenting-the-new-sanctuary-movement/

Photographer Harvey Finkle has documented immigration to the city of Philadelphia since the 1970s. His work has been hailed as […]

04/21/2021

Celebrate Mother's Day by Helping Asylum-Seeker Moms - The Asylumist

Celebrate Mother’s Day by Helping Asylum-Seeker Moms

Mother’s Day is coming up – on May 9, 2021. If you need a nice gift idea for the mother(s) in your life, and you’d like to support a worthy cause at the same time, check out this “gift of goodness” from #AsylumWorks, a Washington, DC-area non-profit that provides support for asylum seekers: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/04/21/celebrate-mothers-day-by-helping-asylum-seeker-moms/

Mother’s Day is coming up – on May 9, 2021. If you need a nice gift idea for the mother(s) […]

04/14/2021

FY2022 Budget Wish List Mentions the Asylum Backlog! - The Asylumist

FY2022 Budget Wish List Mentions the #Asylum #Backlog!

When you were in middle school, did you ever have a crush on a classmate? Did you analyze every stray glance and dissect every off-hand comment for signs that your crush liked you too? I feel like that’s what we’ve come to as observers of the asylum system. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/04/14/fy2022-budget-wish-list-mentions-the-asylum-backlog/

When you were in middle school, did you ever have a crush on a classmate? Did you analyze every stray […]

04/07/2021

Lobbying Congress to Reduce the Asylum Backlog - The Asylumist

#Lobbying #Congress to Reduce the #Asylum #Backlog

If you are an asylum seeker, torture survivor or advocate, here's how you can get involved in the campaign to reduce the backlog. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/04/07/lobbying-congress-to-reduce-the-asylum-backlog/

President Joe Biden sent the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 to Congress on January 20, his first day in office. […]

03/31/2021

My Client Committed Su***de - The Asylumist

My Client Committed Su***de

Recently, I learned that one of my #asylum clients committed #su***de. Did the delay and uncertainty of the asylum process contribute to his death? https://www.asylumist.com/2021/03/31/my-client-committed-su***de/

Recently, I learned that one of my clients committed su***de. The client was a young man who filed his asylum […]

03/24/2021

Is It Time to Close the Border? - The Asylumist

Is It Time to Close the Border?

Tightening the #border in exchange for #immigration reform may be the best solution we can achieve in an imperfect world. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/03/24/is-it-time-to-close-the-border/

The number of migrants arriving at the U.S. Southern border has been increasing since President Biden took office. According to […]

03/17/2021

The Other Family Separation Crisis

Tens of thousands of #asylum seekers who have come to our country for protection have their cases stuck in a never-ending limbo. They deserve timely decisions, so they can reunite with family members and start the process of healing. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/03/17/the-other-family-separation-crisis/

The Other Family Separation Crisis

Tens of thousands of #asylum seekers who have come to our country for protection have their cases stuck in a never-ending limbo. They deserve timely decisions, so they can reunite with family members and start the process of healing. https://www.asylumist.com/2021/03/17/the-other-family-separation-crisis/

03/10/2021

To Solve the #Border Crises, We Need to Decide Who Qualifies for Asylum

We as a nation need to re-visit our #asylum law, and make a decision about who qualifies for protection: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/03/10/to-solve-the-border-crises-we-need-to-decide-who-qualifies-for-asylum/

To Solve the #Border Crises, We Need to Decide Who Qualifies for Asylum

We as a nation need to re-visit our #asylum law, and make a decision about who qualifies for protection: https://www.asylumist.com/2021/03/10/to-solve-the-border-crises-we-need-to-decide-who-qualifies-for-asylum/