Asylum is a form of protection granted by the government to people outside their country of origin who can show they are facing persecution or serious harm. People who are granted asylum may be protected from being returned to danger (non-refoulement), allowed to remain in the country, given access to work and education, and humane treatment. Asylum can be a temporary measure of protection. It can also lead to refugee status, which provides longer term protection.
People who are eligible for asylum can be harmed or threatened to be harmed for a variety of reasons, including political beliefs, sexual orientation, social group, and race or ethnicity. They must be either physically present in the United States or seeking entry at a port of entry in order to apply for asylum. If they are found to be credible during a credible or reasonable fear interview, they are referred for asylum proceedings in immigration court on a significantly shortened timeline.
The right of asylum is based on the principle that everyone has a fundamental and inalienable right to seek sanctuary from persecution by another sovereign state. The IRC calls on Congress to continue to uphold the United States’s long tradition of offering safety and hope for those seeking asylum. We also advocate for advancing humanitarian efforts abroad to bring peace and stability to crisis-affected countries where many refugees are hosted.
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