A human rights issue that focuses on the right to life, liberty, and security, including the right to be free from the threat of unjust imprisonment, torture or death at the hands of any state. The right to political asylum also includes the right to seek refuge in another country.
People who come to the United States seeking protection from persecution in their home country may qualify for asylum if they meet certain international law criteria, such as having suffered persecution or having a well-founded fear of future persecution on the basis of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Those granted asylum have the legal right to remain in the country and can seek lawful permanent resident status (i.e., a green card) after one year of being admitted to the country.
The government’s immigration policies can affect whether someone is eligible for asylum. For example, if a person does not pass a credible or reasonable fear interview, they are typically given a Notice to Appear in removal proceedings and placed into the immigration court backlog. This can take years to conclude.
The current Department of Homeland Security policy known as the Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP) imposes strict eligibility requirements on people seeking asylum. This means that if an individual arrives at the border without a valid visa, is deemed to be inadmissible and does not meet certain other criteria, they will be transferred to a USCIS asylum office for their full asylum case. This can lead to even longer wait times as they are put into the backlog of asylum officers.