Helping Asylum Seekers and New Asylees Find Their Way in the United States

Authors

Kristin Briner

Abstract

People seek asylum in the United States (U.S.) when their home country is no longer safe due to persecution or other forms of violence. However, obtaining asylum is a notoriously complicated process due to the numerous government agencies involved, the immigration courts' backlogs, and the possibility of detention while awaiting a hearing. The current U.S. immigration system is itself a large barrier to individuals seeking asylum, and information regarding legal rights and protections are often inaccessible to asylum seekers. In this way, the U.S. immigration officials cause massive injustices against asylum seekers and those who have been granted asylum ("asylees"). To remedy this, numerous non-profit organizations have undertaken the task of simplifying and demystifying the asylum process. However, the difficulties do not stop once individuals are granted asylum. This article will describe the efforts of one such organization, the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project ("ASAP"), as it provides legal services and resources to women, children, and families as they move through the U.S. immigration system and begin their new lives in the U.S.

First Page

67

Recommended Citation

Kristin Briner, Helping Asylum Seekers and New Asylees Find Their Way in the United States, 43 CHILD. LEGAL RTS. J. 67 (2023).
Available at: https://lawecommons.luc.edu/clrj/vol43/iss1/4