does having a lawyer make a difference when youre an asylum seeker

by Prof. Foster Kohler 10 min read

Immigrants who are not detained and have attorneys are five times more likely to pursue relief and are nearly five times more likely win their cases than those without attorneys, according to the AIC study.

What are the rights of an asylum seeker in the US?

Feb 25, 2018 · London says an asylum seeker is five times more likely to win a case for asylum if they have legal counsel. "So much depends on whether you have a lawyer and then whether you have a good lawyer ...

What's the difference between asylum seeker vs refugee?

Jun 11, 2013 · It is crucial to have an attorney prepare your document package when you file your papers with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), known as affirmative asylum application. Your chance of the success are considerably higher if you retain a competent and experienced asylum lawyer.

What happens if an asylum seeker doesn’t bring an interpreter?

Feb 25, 2018 · The reality is, unless you have, you know, $5,000, you're probably not going to get a lawyer. So you can ask the judge for more time. You can try to do it on your own.

How can I win my asylum case?

You'll need to show that you fit the legal definition of a "refugee"—that is, that you are unable or unwilling to return to your home country because of having experienced persecution or having a well-founded fear of future persecution on account of at least one of five grounds: either your race, religion, nationality, ...

How long will it take to get a decision on my asylum case?

Although you should receive a decision within two to three months, there have been reported wait times of six months to a year (as of early 2021). The asylum officer will either grant your asylum application or refer your application to the immigration court.

What do asylum seekers need to prove?

What does an asylum seeker have to prove? Those seeking asylum must prove that that they are escaping their homeland because of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Can asylum seeker adjust status?

An asylum applicant is eligible to study while their application is pending, but not to change status unless he or she also holds a valid nonimmigrant visa that allows change of status.

Can you apply for asylum twice?

In some situations, where your stay under a visa had not yet expired when your asylum application was denied and you were not referred to Immigration Court, you may apply for asylum a second time. By Ilona Bray, J.D.

Can I travel within us while my asylum case is pending?

Yes. You can travel within the U.S. while your asylum case is pending. However, I highly recommend that you have your passport, USCIS asylum receipt and other government issued documents with you.Dec 28, 2017

What is the law on asylum seekers?

There is no legal duty or obligation on the asylum seeker to claim and remain in the first safe country and an asylum seeker who moves on is not breaking the law by doing so or disqualifying themselves from refugee status.Jan 2, 2019

What are the laws on asylum?

To be granted asylum, a person must demonstrate that he or she is a “refugee,” that he or she is not barred from asylum for any of the reasons listed in our immigration laws, and that the decision-maker should grant asylum as a matter of discretion.

What are the five grounds for asylum?

An asylum claimant must demonstrate persecution based on one of the five protected grounds (race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion).

Is asylum a lawful permanent resident?

If you were granted asylum status, you are eligible to apply for a green card (permanent residence) one year after receiving your grant of asylum. Your spouse and children are also eligible to apply for a green card if they were admitted to the United States as asylees or were included in your grant of asylum.

Is pending asylum unlawful presence?

As set forth in the statute, an individual does not accrue “unlawful presence” during period in which an alien has a “bona fide application for asylum pending.” The INS' policy memorandum mentioned previously states that in upcoming regulations, the INS will define bona fide as “having any arguable basis in law or fact ...

Is an asylum applicant a resident alien?

Is my guest considered a Non-Resident Alien? The term Non-Resident Alien (NRA) generally refers to any person who is not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, asylee, refugee, or permanent resident (green card holder). Non-resident aliens can also be referred to as non- immigrants.

U.S. Citizenship And Immigration Services Omit 'Nation Of Immigrants' From Mission Statement

It was a familiar story. Since at least 2012, there has been a massive exodus from Central America as families flee gang violence looking for safety in the U.S. For many Central Americans, the only path to legally immigrate is to ask for asylum, which this mother did for her and her son.

Immigrants Are Scrambling To Submit Petitions For Family Members To Come To U.S

She said she was afraid that without a lawyer for her upcoming court date in February, she and her son will get deported to El Salvador — where she added her son could be killed by the gangs.

Critics Of President Trump Say He's Highlighting The MS13 Gang For Political Purposes

London says Central Americans have few options to navigate the process.

Why is it important to have an attorney for asylum?

Although the results of each specific asylum case may differ based on asylum office and particular interviewing officer, it is important for all asylum applicants to submit all necessary documents and carefully prepare for their asylum interviews. A good attorney plays a vitally important role in asylum process.

What is the role of an attorney in asylum?

It is crucial to have an attorney prepare your document package when you file your papers with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), known as affirmative asylum application. Your chance of the success are considerably higher if you retain a competent ...

What to write in closing statement for asylum?

Make a closing statement to the asylum officer, summarizing your case, country conditions, and citing the applicable U.S. and international asylum laws and case law.

Why is an asylum denial denied?

The most common reason for asylum denials is “vague testimony and/or lack of detail on material points” on the applicant’s part during the interview.

How long does it take to get an asylum interview?

In immigration court, the respondent is just one step away from order of deportation if his or her application for asylum is denied. Importantly, immigration court proceedings take years, whereas asylum offices usually schedule an interview within several months, and decide on the case within a few weeks after the asylum interview.

How to prepare for asylum?

Ensure that you are eligible for asylum as a matter of law; Advise you of possible difficulties that you may have; Review your declaration in support of your asylum application, help you put it in the most dramatic and expressive format , presenting the facts in the light most favorable to the grant of asylum, while emphasizing ...

Can not working in immigration cause delays?

This can seriously hurt your case. In addition, most people who do not work in the immigration area are unfamiliar with the standards for submitting evidence, which may cause delays and unfavorable results. Asylum application is a complex process.

What are the issues with immigration?

Issue at a glance 1 The right to a U.S. government-appointed lawyer does not currently extend to immigrants in removal proceedings. 2 Immigrants working with lawyers are ten times more likely to win their removal case. 3 Black immigrants are at disproportionate risk and face particularly egregious conditions in ICE detention. 4 The IRC is calling for all noncitizens to have access to a lawyer in immigration court, no matter their ability to pay.

How long was Philip in ICE custody?

Philip turned himself in to ICE and spent eight months in ICE detention before his release from custody in 2012 with an active removal order. Because Congo was still reeling from a civil war, ICE couldn’t deport him.

When was Philip deported?

Before the ink even dried, Philip was removed in a mass deportation on October 14, along with almost 100 other Black migrants. Even though I was his attorney on record, ICE did not give me advance notice, nor an opportunity to speak with Philip before his removal.

Did Philip have a lawyer?

Like the vast majority of noncitizens in removal proceedings, Philip didn’t have a lawyer when he began his journey through the immigration court system. His first language isn’t English, but—not fully understanding the implications—he waived his right to interpretation during his trial proceedings.

Do black immigrants have to work with lawyers?

Immigrants working with lawyers are ten times more likely to win their removal case. Black immigrants are at disproportionate risk and face particularly egregious conditions in ICE detention. The IRC is calling for all noncitizens to have access to a lawyer in immigration court, no matter their ability to pay.

Does the IRC extend to immigrants?

criminal legal system—if a defendant in criminal court in the U.S. cannot afford a lawyer, the government will appoint them one. But that right does not currently extend to immigrants in removal proceedings.

Why do asylum lawyers study?

This reason is to guide the applicant in every step of the defensive process in court. When an applicant applies for a defensive asylum application, this is to defend him or her from removal proceedings (secondary to illegal documentation, forgery, and the likes).

Can an asylum seeker win a case if they have legal counsel?

According to Judy London—Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project’s directing attorney in Los Angeles—an asylum seeker has higher chances of winning the case if they have legal representatives or counseling. This would be a distressing situation for those in a scene where they cannot afford an immigration attorney and free counsel is also out of reach.

What is the difference between asylum seekers and refugees?

The primary difference between a refugee and an asylee is that a refugee is granted refugee status while still outside the United States; an asylum seeker is granted asylee status after entering the country or while seeking admission at a port of entry.

What is a refugee?

A refugee, according to the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), is “... (A) any person who is outside any country of such person's nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, ...

How to determine if you are eligible for resettlement?

Individuals with P-1, P-2 or P-3 priority who are otherwise eligible will go through a pre-screening process through a Resettlement Support Center, followed by an interview by a USCIS officer, multiple security checks, and a medical exam to determine if they are eligible for resettlement in the United States.

Can an asylum seeker get a green card?

Under certain circumstances, they may be able to apply for a work permit while their application is still pending. Asylees may apply for a green card one year after the approval of their application for asylum, and may apply for citizenship four years later.

Can a spouse and children of an applicant qualify for derivative asylum?

A spouse and children of an applicant listed on the application may qualify for derivative asylum status through the principal applicant. Like refugees, asylees have the right to remain in the United States for an indefinite period until it is safe for them to return to their home country.

Do refugees have higher naturalization rates than non-refugees?

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s annual flow report, refugees have higher naturalization rates than non-refugee immigrants.

Does the INA include refugees?

The INA goes on to specify that the term “refugee” does not include anyone who participated in the persecution of any person for the reasons listed above. The INA also specifically adds that a person who has been forced to abort a pregnancy or undergo involuntary sterilization, refused those procedures, or has otherwise resisted a “coercive population control program” is deemed “to have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of political opinion.”

What is an asylum seeker?

An asylum seeker is a person who claims to be a refugee but whose claim has yet to be evaluated. As such, they’re left in limbo. They apply for asylum on the grounds they cannot return to their home due to fear of persecution. Yet at this stage, they’re unable to access the same rights a refugee can. A person remains an asylum seeker ...

How long can a person remain an asylum seeker?

A person remains an asylum seeker for as long as their application is pending. Not everyone is successful in their claim, either. So although not every asylum seeker will go on to be recognized as a refugee, every refugee was classed as an asylum seeker at some point in time. In order to be considered a refugee in the US, an individual must: ...

How to become a refugee in the US?

In order to be considered a refugee in the US, an individual must: 1 be located outside of the US 2 be able to validate previous persecution or feared approaching persecution based on the individual’s race, religion, nationality, social class, or political outlook 3 not be currently settled in another country 4 be admissible to the US

Why is not knowing the differences important?

Not knowing the differences helps to keep this conversation under the table. It keeps it part of the background chatter, whereas the refugee and asylum crises we’re currently facing needs to be part of the mainstream conversations we’re having in the media, inside government, and around the dinner table with friends and family.

How to be considered a refugee in the US?

In order to be considered a refugee in the US, an individual must: be located outside of the US. be able to validate previous persecution or feared approaching persecution based on the individual’s race, religion, nationality, social class, or political outlook. not be currently settled in another country.

Why do people come to the US border?

A large number of people who come to the US-Mexico border are appealing for asylum because of dire economic circumstances or because of gang or domestic violence. Yet under current US law, these people do not qualify for asylum and do not qualify for the assistance a refugee has access to.

What is a refugee?

A refugee is any person forced to flee their country due to war, persecution, or because their home government cannot (or will not) protect them. Often, they’re unable to—or are too afraid to—return home.

How long does an immigration lawyer consultation last?

ANSWER: A typical consultation should last around 45 minutes to an hour. A qualified immigration lawyer should obtain general information from you and discuss the facts of your case. Then they will discuss which legal options are appropriate for you, and review the anticipated costs of your case. By the end of our consultation, you should know what can be done for you, how long it will take, what are the risks and at what cost.

What is immigration consultation?

ANSWER: A consultation provides you with details and recommendations based on your own case. Immigration law is complex, and constantly changing. It cannot be fully comprehended without knowing the structure, context, and history of the law. Generalized information online is not a substitute for a detailed analysis of your case by an experienced attorney. In fact, there is a lot of misleading and false information in cyberspace that looks credible but isn’t.

Is immigration law federal?

ANSWER: Immigration law is Federal. This means that so long as your lawyers are licensed in Canada and the US., they should be able to handle any immigration matter for US and Canadian visas. At our firm, we have many clients from all over Can ada, the US and the world we sometimes never see in person! So long as you have email an internet access, we can help.

Is there a guarantee on immigration?

ANSWER: There are no guarantees with immigration cases. The nature of immigration law and the realities of immigration processing are such that guaranteeing a result is impossible and unethical. However, if the immigration firm you choose has many years of experience and a good reputation and is up front with you, you should be in good hands.