Ms. Y endured persecution as a political prisoner in her native Tibet. She, her husband, and two of her brothers were arrested after participating in a pro-Tibetan independence demonstration, and were tortured while in prison. Ms. Y, who was pregnant at the time, was interrogated and severely beaten, but was released after a few days. Her husband, however, served a year in prison; her brothers, five years. All three endured further torture during their confinement, and one brother suffered serious nervous system damage from repeated electric shocks.

When they continued their political activism, Ms. Y and her husband were imprisoned again, and their children were denied public education. Eventually, they escaped to Nepal, and then to India. From there Ms. Y travelled to the United States. When she arrived at the Newark airport in November 2005 and requested asylum, she was arrested and held at the Elizabeth Detention Center.

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in New Jersey, a partner agency supported through LIRS's Detained Torture Survivors Legal Support Network, represented Ms. Y at her immigration hearing and arranged a forensic medical examination for her. Ms. Y and AFSC were successful in their efforts; she was granted asylum in February 2006.

Adapted from the Semi-Annual Program Progress Report (Oct. 1, 2005 – March 30, 2006) for the LIRS Detained Torture Survivor Legal Support Network (ORR Grant No. 90ZT0031-02), pp. 19-20.

Who are asylum seekers?
Asylum seekers have long seen the United States as a safe haven where they can live free from harassment, violence and persecution. An asylum seeker might be a man fleeing political persecution, a woman escaping imprisonment and sexual assault by government-backed militias, or even an unaccompanied child who survived genocide. Read more about how LIRS serves children.

A claim for asylum must be based on a credible fear of persecution, i.e., serious violations of human rights, on the basis of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reports that approximately 49,000 asylum applications were filed in the United States in 2005. Only France had more.

How does LIRS help asylum seekers?
LIRS works to help asylum seekers in immigration detention through the Asylum and Immigration Grant Program and the Detained Torture Survivor Legal Support Network, and by supporting legal orientation programs at detention facilities throughout the country. Through these programs LIRS provides our partners with vital funds and technical assistance to ensure that vulnerable individuals such as asylum seekers and torture survivors can receive quality and expert legal services. The program also supports advocacy efforts that seek alternatives to detention.

The LIRS access to justice unit also assists and guides our local partners across the country. From legal services referrals to advice on the treatment of immigration detainees, we provide important support services to individuals and organizations seeking to address the challenges asylum seekers face.

How does LIRS help asylees?
Asylees are people who have been granted asylum in the United States. Asylees are eligible for the Matching Grant Program, which LIRS administers through our affiliate network. Although asylees are not typically for other reception and placement benefits afforded to refugees, an exception was made in the case of a group of asylees from Burma, many of whom had been living on the island of Guam. Through our Burmese Asylee Project LIRS is helping them integrate into their communities and new lives in the United States.

What You Can Do
You can take action to help those asylum seekers who need protection of the United States.

• Give your time and money to help LIRS continue to serve and advocate for the most vulnerable immigrants.
• Learn more:
  • Read about how LIRS serves immigration detainees.
  • Read America: A Freedom Country.
  • Read more detailed information on asylum seekers and the U.S. asylum process. (MS Word)
• Advocate:
  • Join the LIRS Action Network to receive critical advocacy updates on how you can speak up for asylum seekers and other vulnerable immigrants.
  • Learn more about LIRS's advocacy efforts.
  • Join the Detention Watch Network for information on advocacy opportunities.
• Serve:
  • Contact LIRS’s local asylum and immigration partners to find out what volunteer needs they have.

Links for Further Reading

• Detention Watch Network—A network of individuals and organizations concerned with the U.S. detention system. Maintains a listserv devoted to issues regarding detained asylum seekers.
• The Florence Project—An LIRS partner that provides “Know Your Rights” materials to help people in immigration detention understand immigration proceedings.
• Human Rights First—Publishes the Asylum Protection News online newsletter.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services—The federal agency that adjudicates some types of asylum applications.
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—The federal agency that oversees the immigration detention system.

Page created February 21, 2007.