Asylum (6do encyclopedia)



Asylum is a form of protection granted to individuals who have fled persecution or fear of persecution in their home country. It is also known as political asylum or refugee status, and it is a fundamental right recognized by international law.

The concept of asylum dates back to ancient times, where religious and political figures would offer sanctuary to those seeking refuge from their persecutors. In modern times, the concept has evolved to become a formal legal process defined by national and international laws.

Under international law, anyone has the right to seek asylum in another country if they fear persecution in their home country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. The principle of non-refoulement, which states that no one should be forced to return to a country where they would face persecution, is a fundamental principle of the international refugee protection regime.

The process of seeking asylum can vary from country to country but typically involves submitting an application to the government and going through an interview and screening process to determine eligibility. Applicants must provide evidence of their fear of persecution and the reasons for it.

Once granted asylum, individuals receive legal protection, including the right to stay in the country and work legally. They may also receive assistance with housing, healthcare, and integration into society. However, asylum can be revoked if the individual no longer meets the criteria or if they commit a serious crime in the host country.

In recent years, the issue of asylum has become highly politicized, with many countries tightening their borders and restricting entry for asylum-seekers. In some cases, asylum-seekers have been detained and deported back to their home countries, which poses a risk of harm or death for them.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the primary international organization responsible for protecting refugees and asylum-seekers. They offer assistance to host countries, advocacy on behalf of refugees, and support for refugees to return home or resettle in a new country.

Asylum is one of the most important legal protections available to individuals facing persecution in their home countries. It upholds the fundamental human rights of these vulnerable individuals and ensures that they have access to safety and protection in other countries. The protection of asylum-seekers and refugees is critical to global peace and stability, and it is the responsibility of all countries to uphold their international legal obligations in this regard.


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A border wall, a ticking clock and a desperate decision: One migrant’s story at the Mexico-U.S. frontier

The Toronto Star

23-05-12 01:34


The ending of America's Title 42 law, brought in by the previous president Donald Trump at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has thrown migrants like Najib into a state of anxiety and confusion. The law allowed authorities in the US to immediately send back immigrants who crossed the border illegally but with it set to expire, and fearing a humanitarian crisis, the Biden administration has moved to change the rules. Afghans like Najib have made the ten-country trek from Brazil and are currently waiting near the airport in Tijuana to join other Afghans to make a half-hour drive to Trump's infamous border wall. Following the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021, persecuted Afghans had no option but to take advantage of Brazil's humanitarian visa and risked kidnapping, drowning in the Caribbean Sea, and attacks by deadly snakes and crocodiles while crossing 10 countries to get to safety in the US or Canada. Beginning Friday, it would be the new "safe third country" transit rule; anyone who crosses the wall before the end of Thursday will be subjected to Title 42.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2023/05/11/a-border-wall-a-ticking-clock-and-a-desperate-decision-one-migrants-story-at-the-mexico-us-frontier.html
Desperate and bewildered migrants trapped as US border rules change

South China Morning Post

23-05-11 23:49


As many as 400 migrants have become trapped in squalid conditions on the Mexican border as they attempt to enter the US. The cohort of asylum seekers has been waiting to enter US Customs and Border Protection for almost a week, stuck between the Tijuana border and San Diego. The Biden administration is under increasing pressure to address the situation, as it weighs the need to accommodate these migrants against broader concerns over border protection.

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3220270/desperate-and-bewildered-migrants-trapped-us-border-rules-change
Desperate and bewildered, migrants stuck at US gates as Title 42 ends

Reuters

23-05-11 23:41


Migrants trapped near the US-Mexico border in squalid conditions have implored President Biden to provide them with aid. In order to seek legal immigration, hundreds of migrants have camped out near the border between Tijuana and San Diego after the expiration of Title 42. The COVID-era provision blocks most asylum claims. Providing assistance to migrants in need, aid workers have been distributing food and water in the area between the border walls, and volunteers have been charging cell batteries, so that they can remain in contact with their families. Confusion reigns among the migrants as the process for seeking status has changed since Title 42 expired.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/desperate-bewildered-migrants-stuck-us-gates-title-42-ends-2023-05-11/
What comes next after Title 42?

The Independent

23-05-11 23:24


Title 42, which prevented asylum seekers from entering the US via the Mexico border during the pandemic, has expired, with up to 3 million people now seeking safe haven in the country. The end of the policy will likely cause long delays for people trying to gain asylum legally, with CBP One, the official US app used to make appointments for asylum, experiencing malfunctions due to excess demand. The Border Patrol estimates that at least 1.15 million people were apprehended under the old policy, while more than a million more were barred via Title 42 itself.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/title-42-biden-immigration-reform-b2337403.html
US Re­pub­li­cans pass ‘ex­treme’ im­mi­gra­tion bill as Ti­tle 42 ends

Al Jazeera

23-05-11 22:56


A bill put forward by Republicans seeks to build more walls across the US-Mexico border and establish further asylum restrictions. It aims to offer an alternative policy to President Joe Biden's liberal migration platform to secure GOP popularity amongst its voters, with opponents calling it “cruel” and “anti-immigrant”. However, the bill is not expected to become law. Democrats control the Senate and the President has pledged to veto the initiative. Passing it would give House GOP lawmakers something to show voters as lawmakers face discontent over increased illegal immigration. The unwieldly nature of immigration legislation has vexed Congress for years. However, a small group of House and Senate legislators hopes that the bill could provide momentum for a separate initiative, which might combine border enforcement with expanded legal immigration via work visas and a potential path to citizenship for child arrivals.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/11/us-republicans-pass-extreme-immigration-bill-as-title-42-ends
Numbers reveal how the new Canada-U.S. border deal is affecting irregular migration

The Toronto Star

23-05-15 23:30


Since the new Safe Third Country Agreement came into force, illegal migration into Canada from the US has dropped significantly, according to the Canada Border Services Agency. In the 48 days between 25 March and 11 May, the surveillance connected to the deal resulted in just 546 cases of individuals crossing designated ports of entry – 300 of whom were intercepted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This is a steep decrease from January, which saw 4,994 irregular migrants arriving in Canada, and February, which saw 4,581 entering illegally.

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2023/05/15/numbers-reveal-how-the-new-canada-us-border-deal-is-affecting-irregular-migration.html
American cities reach ‘breaking point’ as migrant crisis heads north

The Sydney Morning Herald

23-05-15 22:55


Asylum seekers are flowing into cities in the US, including Washington, Denver and New York, and the burden on infrastructure is reaching breaking point, according to local leaders. Washington has seen buses filled with dozens of migrants arriving outside Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence due to Republican governor Greg Abbott’s practice which seeks to give Democratic cities a taste of what border towns are experiencing. Mayor Michael Hancock said Denver has already spent over $17m on supporting migrants to arrive in the Colorado capital. In New York, where more than 4,200 asylum seekers arrived in the past week, Governor Kathy Hochul wants asylum seekers to be housed on federal land.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/american-cities-reach-breaking-point-as-migrant-crisis-heads-north-20230516-p5d8mo.html
Canada closed a border loophole. Where will migrants go?

CBC

23-05-16 12:00


An immigration loophole used by almost 50,000 migrants to seek asylum in Canada has been closed. Over the past 18 months, Roxham Road in Quebec was a staging point for those hoping to exploit the gap between the points where Canadian and US authorities have jurisdiction. However, midnight on 25 March saw the loophole shut. Dozens of migrants have been caught attempting to enter Canada along the road since the closure. Many who arrived shortly before the clampdown were ended found their journey stopped.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/canada-closed-a-border-loophole-where-will-migrants-go-1.6844531
Parliamentary committee calls for modernized Safe Third Country Agreement

The Toronto Star

23-05-16 19:32


A committee of the Canadian parliament has put forward recommendations that Canada's Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires asylum-seekers to make a claim in the first country they arrive in, should include exemptions for those who have experienced gender-based violence. Under the current system, people are turned away if they attempt to cross the border in order to make a claim in the other country. The report also recommends that an exemption should be restored to the agreement, which would allow asylum-seekers to claim at the Canadian border if they are from a country to which Canada does not deport people.

https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2023/05/16/parliamentary-committee-calls-for-modernized-safe-third-country-agreement.html
Government to remove licensing need for landlords housing refugees

The Independent

23-05-17 04:15


The UK government has proposed temporarily removing licensing requirements for asylum seeker accommodation, allowing landlords to house them for two years without obtaining House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) recognition. Critics warned that this would endanger asylum seekers’ safety by creating exemptions from the regulations governing electrical safety and minimum room sizes. The plans, which could become effective as early as Wednesday, form part of a move to move thousands of asylum seekers out of hotels. Almost 50,000 asylum seekers are currently accommodated in hotels, in addition to 57,000 people in long-standing asylum housing.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/asylum-housing-landlord-hmo-licence-b2340264.html
Government to remove licensing requirements for landlords housing asylum seekers

The Independent

23-05-17 04:15


The UK government is seeking to disable certain accommodation licensing rules for landlords who house asylum seekers for two years in response to a growing wave of immigration that has seen thousands of people accommodated in hotels. The decision, which would allow landlords to temporarily side-step licensing rules for House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO), has been criticised by opposition MPs, who say it would leave already traumatised people at risk of living in accommodation that is unfit for human habitation.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/government-home-office-matthew-pennycook-mps-labour-b2340173.html
Ex-Wagner commander who sought asylum in Norway wants to return to Russia

Reuters

23-05-17 23:42


A former commander of Russia’s Wagner group, who defected to Norway in January, has said he would like to return to Russia, despite the risks to his life that this could entail. Andrei Medvedev crossed the Russian-Norwegian border in January, evading border guards with dogs and traversing a frozen river. He said he had sought asylum in Norway after witnessing the mistreatment and killing of Russian prisoners involved with the group in Ukraine. The 26-year old has since been convicted of an airgun offence and of involvement in a bar fight.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ex-wagner-commander-who-sought-asylum-norway-wants-return-russia-2023-05-17/
It turns out that Democrats bus migrants, too

Economist

23-05-18 12:47


New York City is bussing asylum-seekers 60 miles up the Hudson River to the Crossroads Hotel on the outskirts of the town of Newburgh. The migrant residents are from countries as diverse as Venezuela and Mauritania and each wait to hear if they merit asylum. Once settled, many of the men in the hotel began asking for work immediately. Oscar Eduardo Angula Rivas, 29, left behind his wife and baby in Venezuela to walk for three months in search of freedom before seeking asylum. He was robbed while trying to live in a shelter in New York City, so when the city offered him a bus ride 60 miles upstate to Newburgh, he was pleased. About 60,000 people seeking asylum arrived in New York in the last year, with 41,000 housed in city-funded shelters. It is expected they will cost the city $2.9bn to care for them in the coming year - more than the city pays for its fire department.

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/05/18/it-turns-out-that-democrats-bus-migrants-too
Ex-Wagner commander who fled to Norway wants to return to Russia despite risk of death

Telegraph

23-05-18 19:39


A former commander of the Russian military group Wagner has said he would like to return to Russia, even though he fears for his life if he does so. Andrei Medvedev escaped Russia to seek asylum in Norway in January, saying he was fleeing the mistreatment of Russian prisoners and feared for his life. However, he has now said he wants to return. Medvedev was convicted in Norway in April of being involved in a bar fight and carrying an air gun.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/18/wagner-commander-fled-norway-return-russia/
US re­veals 8-year-old girl died in bor­der pa­trol cus­tody

Al Jazeera

23-05-18 22:53


An 8-year-old girl from Panama has died whilst in border patrol custody, making it the second death in two weeks of a child in custody from Latin America. The girl was undergoing “a medical emergency” and was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on Wednesday. The Border Patrol’s parent agency, US Customs and Border Protection, has been struggling with overcrowding in its facilities, driven by a significant increase in migrants and asylum seekers ahead of the expiry last week of a key regulation on immigration related to COVID-19.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/18/us-reveals-8-year-old-girl-died-in-border-patrol-custody
Why the End of Title 42 Means the End to a Secure Border

Heritage

23-05-19 03:04


The US is set to end the Title 42 policy, which allows for the immediate expulsion of those considered to have crossed the southern border illegally (1 May 2022). Critics warn this could worsen the country's border crisis with some suggesting opening more legal pathways for migration, while others have argued the Biden administration should pass new laws similar to Title 42 to allow for the expedited expulsion of illegal migrants, particularly in the absence of significant reforms to the ailing immigration system.

https://www.heritage.org/immigration/commentary/why-the-end-title-42-means-the-end-secure-border
Biden Prioritizes Illegal Aliens’ Applications Over Those Who Came Here Lawfully

Heritage

23-05-19 03:04


The Biden administration refuses to acknowledge the severity of the US border crisis after two years, and has prioritised processing illegal aliens over those rightly entering the country. A new report suggests that the Department of Homeland Security has realigned staffing to meet the demands of the illegal population entering America at the southwestern border. This move seems only a matter of supply and demand allocation and will not control the border, according to the report. It claims that policies and regulations have been designed by Biden and his administration to ease procedural “burdens” aimed at making it easier for illegal immigrants to come into America.

https://www.heritage.org/immigration/commentary/biden-prioritizes-illegal-aliens-applications-over-those-who-came-here
The Voice: response v. reconciliation

The Age

23-05-19 10:00


The proposition of an Indigenous Voice referendum is not just a political issue, but also one of national inclusiveness and respect, according to a letter published in The Age. The letter responds to Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s criticism of the AFL’s decision to support the Yes vote in the referendum. The authors argue that the referendum is an invitation for everyone to inform themselves of the relevant issues and express their views, and that the No campaign should have equal representation. The letter warns that the risk to the reputation of Australia if the referendum does not pass is high, and that the fundamental question of recognising the place of Indigenous Australians must be included in the Constitution to prevent this.

Another letter in the same publication calls for the extension of voluntary assisted dying legislation to include dementia sufferers. The author shares their personal experience of caring for a loved one who had dementia and wanted the choice to end their life. The letter argues that, with the increase in dementia cases, individuals with the disease should be allowed to make their wishes clear and recorded, to prevent years of unnecessary suffering.

Finally, a letter criticises Noel Pearson for denigrating individuals who disagree with him regarding the Indigenous Voice referendum. The author argues that Pearson’s recent attacks on respected Indigenous leader Mick Gooda are unacceptable and highlight a growing intransigence within the Yes camp. The letter suggests that Pearson’s behaviour is disappointing, given his previous contributions to the cause of Aboriginal Australians.


https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-voice-response-v-reconciliation-20230519-p5d9s4.html

Border crossings down, but many migrants released to U.S. to ease crowding

Washington Post

23-05-19 20:57


More migrants were released into the U.S. over the past week than deported or sent back home, according to unpublished data obtained by The Washington Post. While the DHS said that it sent more than 11,000 migrants, including families with children, to more than 30 countries during the past week, which was accompanied by daily news releases describing increased deportations, US border authorities were also making efforts to stem crowding inside detention cells and ease pressure on agents and overcrowded holding facilities, by releasing thousands of migrants while their immigration claims are pending in courts. In the week since the Biden administration lifted pandemic restrictions at the southern border, the number of migrants crossing illegally has dropped significantly. However, migrants are now being released into the country, to await a court date, as the average time someone spends in Border Patrol custody is three to four days at busy crossing points.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2023/05/19/border-crossers-deported-released/