Roadblocks to Obtaining Refugee Status or Asylum

The United States prides itself on its rich international heritage and the role that immigrant populations have played in its growth and success. Providing asylum to refugees fleeing persecution in their home countries has long been a central tenet of U.S. immigration policy, but there are restrictions in place to ensure the safety and security of the nation and its population.

The first obstacle when seeking asylum is simply convincing immigration officials that persecution has taken place or that good reason to fear future persecution exists. This is no simple task, but the stated objective of refugee status in the United States is to protect those in need, and those facing persecution should have little trouble demonstrating their plight.

Blockades to Asylum

In some cases, an individual may truly face persecution in their home country, but they still find themselves unable to receive refugee status in America. This may happen if:

• The applicant has carried out or assisted in the persecution of others. The hypocrisy behind seeking protection against the condition one has themselves perpetrated is not tolerated.

• The applicant is a threat the safety or security of the United States. Applications will be denied to those known to be involved in any terrorist activity or to have perpetrated a particularly serious crime (a designation determined on a case-by-case basis) will be granted admission to the country.

• The applicant has already become “firmly resettled” in another country, if the threat of persecution has been averted by the applicant resettling themselves in a third country. Those who are denied asylum on this basis may still be eligible to immigrate by traditional means.

If none of these conditions are met and the existence of persecution or threat of persecution can be demonstrated, an application for asylum is likely to be approved.

Contact Us

If you are interested in applying for refugee status or asylum in the United States, it will be extremely beneficial to employ the services of an experienced attorney. Contact the skilled and knowledgeable Orange County immigration attorneys of Garg & Associates, P.C., at 949-540-6704 to discuss your case.