Many people who move from one country to another do so seeking protection, or asylum. Asylum is international protection granted to people who fear persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. It includes a variety of benefits such as the protection from being returned to danger (non-refoulement), permission to live and work in the asylum country, and ultimately a path to lawful permanent resident status.
In order to qualify for asylum, a person must demonstrate that they are in fear of persecution if returned to their home country. Asylum adjudicators usually interview an individual who is making a claim to determine if they have a credible or reasonable fear of persecution. The process is sometimes lengthy and traumatic, and the result can have significant consequences for individuals. It is common for the government to detain those who are found to have a credible or reasonable fear while they await the decision on their case. This can lead to years of detention for some, despite the fact that they are in no immediate danger.
It is important to note that asylum is not a guaranteed right. With limited exceptions, people who fail to apply for asylum within a year of arriving in the United States or who are found to pose a threat to the nation and/or have committed a particularly serious crime are barred from receiving asylum. Those who are found to have participated in persecution of others will also not be granted asylum, even if they meet the other requirements for the protection.