Asylum
Asylum grants legal protection to foreign nationals already in the U.S. or arriving at the border who can’t go back to their home country because of persecution. Learn more about the asylum system in the United States, including how asylum is defined, eligibility requirements, and the difficult and complex application process.
On World Refugee Day, a Look at the Trump Administration’s Ugly Track Record on Refugees
Across the globe, people gather together to celebrate World Refugee Day on June 20. Started in 2001, this day not only commends the courage and determination of the currently 25.4 million recognized refugees, but is also a time for countries and institutions to recommit to the… Read More
The Trump Administration Is Choosing to Separate Children From Their Parents Every Day
Every day under the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is choosing to separate children from their parents. Despite claims by the administration to the contrary, the separation of families could stop today if the Attorney General and DHS chose to end the policy. In… Read More
Trump’s Signature Family Separation Policy and Migrant Kid Jails Meet Outrage
The outcry against family separation has only just begun. The Trump administration’s cruel policy of separating migrant children from their parents when they cross the U.S.-Mexico border is drawing sharp criticism from many corners. In addition to protests held by everyday Americans, faith leaders, pediatricians, and… Read More
Asylum Seekers Fleeing Domestic Violence and Gangs Now Face Even Higher Hurdles to Protection
In the latest attack on asylum seekers, Attorney General Jeff Sessions single-handedly overturned years of immigration precedent to find that many victims of violence will not qualify for asylum. His strongly-worded opinion strikes an especially devastating blow to Central American asylum seekers, the vast majority of… Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Port of Entry Practices FOIA Lawsuit
In the year and a half since the FOIA request was filed, CBP largely failed to provide any records in response to the request. On June 11, 2018, the Council, represented by O’Melveny & Myers LLP, filed a lawsuit to compel DHS and CBP to comply with FOIA and to release additional records related to the 2016 request. Read More
Sessions Rolls Back Asylum Protections for Domestic and Gang Violence Victims
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on Monday his decision to overturn earlier court precedent effectively rolling back protections for asylum-seeking men, women, and children fleeing domestic violence and criminal gangs. Sessions referred Matter of A-B- to himself earlier this year—a case involving a Salvadoran woman who… Read More
American Immigration Council’s Statement on Attorney General’s Decision Restricting Access to Asylum for Victims of Domestic and Gang Violence
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced today that he is taking away a vital lifeline to victims of severe domestic and gang violence. Sessions issued a decision unilaterally overruling important precedent recognizing that such individuals may qualify for asylum in the United States. Read More
Asylum Seeker Files Lawsuit After CBP Officers Falsify Paperwork and Then Deport Him
Time and time again, immigrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border are never given a meaningful opportunity by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to explain why they fear returning to their country of origin. All too often CBP officers fail to follow the rules designed to protect asylum… Read More
Lawsuit Seeks To Hold CBP Accountable for Turning Away Asylum Seeker and Falsifying Paper Trail
José Crespo Cagnant filed a lawsuit to hold the government accountable for abusive, unlawful conduct and depriving him of an opportunity to apply for asylum. Read More
Holding CBP Accountable for Turning Away Asylum Seeker and Falsifying Paper Trail
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers all too frequently deny individuals fleeing persecution and torture their right to seek protection in the United States, issue summary removal orders against them, and then falsify documents to support their illegal actions. Read More
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