Asylum Law | ILRC

Many people come to the United States seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear that they will be harmed if they return to their home country. Asylum is a form of protection our government may grant to someone fleeing their country because they fear they will be harmed based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. This area of immigration law is very complicated but is essential to those fleeing their countries in search of safety.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) builds the capacity of immigration advocates to assist immigrants in their claims for asylum in order to provide more immigrants with a meaningful chance at justice. As experts in the field, the ILRC publishes The Essentials of Asylum Law, a manual which provides a thorough review of asylum law with practice tips. In addition, the ILRC hosts several webinars on asylum law and emerging issues. We also support practitioners in their specific cases through our Attorney of the Day (AOD) technical assistance service.

Latest in Asylum

After TPS: Options and Next Steps

06/07/2018

Over 300,000 people currently benefit from Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and many have been protected by it for nearly 20 years. However, the current administration is terminating the program for certain countries and is reviewing the designation of several others. This practice advisory describes what TPS recipients and their advocates can do now to understand their legal options. It will...

The CSPA and Asylees

05/21/2018

This practice advisory discusses how the Child Status Protection Act protects children of asylees and refugees through the immigration process, including the asylum application, the Form I-730, and adjustment.

Deportation by Any Means Necessary: How Immigration Officials Are Labeling Immigrant Youth as Gang Members

05/21/2018

This report details findings from a national survey of legal practitioners concerning the increased use of gang allegations against young immigrants as a means of driving up deportation numbers, at the encouragement of the Trump administration. The report suggests emerging best practices for immigration attorneys to employ in both fighting against unfounded gang allegations and working to...

Warning for Immigrants About Medical and Legalized Marijuana

01/08/2018

As of January 2018, 28 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana, and 8 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana for adults. Immigrants may reasonably think that using marijuana according to these state laws will not hurt their immigration status. Unfortunately, that's wrong!! It is still a federal offense to possess marijuana, and...

Immigration Relief for Immigrant Survivors of Abuse: Comparative Quick Reference Chart

07/05/2017

This reference chart provides a quick comparison between the most common forms of relief for immigrant survivors of abuse: VAWA, U visas, T visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and Asylum.