Rights & liberties
asylum
Protection for someone already in the United States who fears persecution at home based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group.
In full
Asylum and refugee status apply the same standard at different points: refugees are screened abroad under an annual presidential ceiling, asylum seekers apply from inside the country or at a port of entry. Applications generally must be filed within a year of arrival. A grant leads to work authorization and eventually to permanent residence.
Also written as: refugee
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.