Chapter 5 Asylum and Related Relief

Asylum and Related Relief
Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Asylum and Related Relief

DISCLAIMER
This chapter is provided for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice of any
kind. Before proceeding with any legal matters under U.S. immigration law, please consult, as
needed, both the primary source documents referenced in this chapter (statutes, regulations, cases,
etc.) and your KIND pro bono coordinator.
How can unaccompanied children qualify for asylum?

Asylum is a form of protection and relief from removal available to unaccompanied children who have
suffered persecution in their home country and fear returning to their home country because of such
persecution.
U.S. law,1 as well as international law, provides individuals fleeing persecution the right to seek
asylum.2 Asylum is a fundamental right rooted in both domestic and international law.
Many attorneys are familiar with the basic concepts of asylum and may even have represented an
adult client in an asylum proceeding. However, it is important to understand that children's asylum
claims are different in many ways, and attorneys must be aware of such differences when proceeding
with the representation of children.
Eligibility
To qualify for asylum, the applicant must prove that she meets the U.S. definition of a refugee, merits
a favorable exercise of discretion, and is not statutorily barred from being recognized as a refugee
and being granted asylum in the United Status.
What are the particular considerations for children seeking

asylum?
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 defines an unaccompanied alien child as a person under 18
years of age, who has no lawful immigration status in the United States, and who either has no parent
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or legal guardian in the United States or has no parent or legal guardian in the United States who is
available to provide care and physical custody.3
The U.S. government recognizes that unaccompanied children require special procedural and
substantive considerations when applying for asylum. In 1998, legacy INS issued Guidelines for
Children's Asylum Claims.4 These guidelines outline procedural as well as substantive considerations
for adjudicators reviewing child asylum claims. You should review these guidelines when preparing to
file an asylum application on behalf of a child.
What are the eligibility requirements for asylum?

Gaining asylum in the United States, for adults and children alike, requires that the applicant meet
four general requirements:
The applicant must be present in the United States.5
The applicant must prove that she meets the legal definition of a "refugee."6
The applicant must prove that she is not statutorily barred from receiving asylum.
The applicant must demonstrate that she merits a grant of asylum as an exercise of the
adjudicator's discretion7
Who has the initial burden of establishing asylum eligibility?

The burden of proof is on the child to establish her claim for asylum.8 However, to meet this burden,
the child need only establish that there is a "reasonable possibility" of persecution.9
Child Practice Pointer:

Domestic and international policies recommend that adjudicators be mindful of a child's maturity level
when assessing a child's credibility and fear of persecution. For example, U.S. asylum officers are
encouraged to take into consideration the effects of the child's age, maturity, ability to recall events,
and potentially limited knowledge of the asylum process when assessing the child's eligibility.10
In addition, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Handbook on Procedures
and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status states that children's testimony should be given a liberal
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"benefit of the doubt" with respect to evaluating a child's alleged fear of persecution.11
Who is a refugee?
In order to be granted asylum in the United States, the child must establish that she meets the
definition of a refugee, irrespective of age.12 A refugee is defined under INA § 101(a)(42)(A) as:
[A]ny person who is outside any country of such person's nationality or, in the case of a person
having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and
who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the
protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on
account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
It should be noted that the statute provides the basic definition and legal requirements for asylum; in
order to fully understand these requirements, it is critical that you become familiar with the asylum
regulations, codified at 8 C.F.R. § 208.
Children cannot include their parents as derivatives on their asylum application.13
How does an applicant prove persecution?

To be eligible for asylum, your child client must prove that she has suffered past persecution or has a
well-founded fear of future persecution. Note that past persecution and a well-founded fear of future
persecution are independent bases for asylum.14 Thus, if a child is able to prove either basis, the
child will meet that element of the refugee definition.
Proving persecution requires a careful and thorough fact-based case analysis. It is your job to argue
that the child's past trauma and history (as well as potential for future trauma) does in fact rise to the
level of persecution.
What does it mean to suffer from past persecution?

While no exact definition of persecution exists, the administrative agency responsible for reviewing an
immigration judge's interpretation of the refugee definition, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA),
has defined persecution as, "the infliction of harm or suffering by a government, or persons a
government is unwilling or unable to control, to overcome a characteristic of the victim."15 Further,
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federal circuit courts and the BIA have described persecution as "the infliction of harm or suffering
upon those who differ in a way that is regarded as offensive."16
Generally speaking, threats to life or freedom are uniformly found to be persecution. Further physical
abuse even when not life threatening is considered persecution. A finding of persecution does not
necessarily require that the child suffer bodily harm or a threat to life or freedom.17
Further, actions that individually do not constitute persecution may cumulatively rise to the level of
persecution. Such examples include:
Relegation to substandard living conditions.
Denial of a passport or travel documents.
Constant surveillance.
Interference in the child's private life, invasion of privacy.
Impeding or barring access to school or institutions of higher learning.
Actions that are unfair, unjust, or even unlawful, including mere harassment or discrimination, may not
rise to the level of persecution.18 In general, the BIA does not consider harsh conditions shared by
many, or general civil strife, anarchy, or criminal punishment for violating laws (such as exit laws or
military conscription) persecution.19 However, a fear of general violence does not necessarily negate
a particular fear of persecution based on a protected ground.20
Is the government the only agent who can inflict persecution?

No. The asylum seeker must prove that the persecution was inflicted by the government or by a group
that the government was unable or unwilling to control.
For example, in the case of gang-based asylum, often it is a gang that is the persecutor, not the
government. However, because the government is unable to control the gang or protect citizens from
gang violence, such persecution may still qualify for protection.

For a child asylum seeker, the harm a child fears or suffered may be relatively less than an adult and
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still qualify as persecution.21 Further, several federal circuit courts of appeals have recognized that
certain events, when perceived or endured by a child applicant, particularly when harm is caused to
the child's family, may rise to the level of persecution:
Jorge-Tzoc v. Gonzales, 435 F.3d 146, 150 (2d Cir. 2006)(finding that where the applicant "was
a child at the time of massacres and thus necessarily dependent on both his family and his
community . . . This combination of circumstances [displacement - initially internal, resulting
economic hardship, and viewing the bullet-ridden body of his cousin] could well constitute
persecution to a small child totally dependent on his family and community").
Kholyavskiy v. Mukasey, 540 F.3d 555, 571 (7th Cir. 2008)(holding that the adjudicator should
have considered the "cumulative significance" of events to the applicant that occurred when he
was between the ages of eight and thirteen. The applicant was subjected to regular
"discrimination and harassment [that] pervaded his neighborhood." Such harm included being
regularly mocked and urinated on by other school children for being Jewish, being forced by his
teachers to stand up and identify himself as Jewish, being called slurs, and being physically
abused in his neighborhood).
Mei Dan Liu v. Ashcroft, 380 F.3d 307, 314 (7th Cir. 2004)(while finding that persecution did not
take place, the court stated, "age can be a critical factor in the adjudication of asylum claims and
may bear heavily on the question of whether an applicant was persecuted...There may be
situations where children should be considered victims of persecution though they have suffered
less harm than would be required for an adult").
Hernandez-Ortiz v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 1042 (9th Cir. 2007) (finding that a "child's reaction to
injuries to his family is different from an adult's. The child is part of the family, the wound to the
family is personal, the trauma apt to be lasting . . . [I]njuries to a family must be considered in an
asylum case where the events that form the basis of the past persecution claim were perceived
when the petitioner was a child." In the case of Hernandez-Ortiz, two brothers aged seven and
nine fled to Mexico due to the Guatemalan army's arrival at their village, the beating of their
father by soldiers in front of their mother, and the flight of their brother who was later killed by
the army).
Reinhardt, J. concurring opinion in Kahssai v. INS, 16 F.3d 323, 329 (9th Cir. 1994)(stating that
the effects of losing one's family as a child can constitute serious harm. "The fact that she did
not suffer physical harm is not determinative of her claim of persecution: there are other equally
serious forms of injury that result from persecution. For example, when a young girl loses her
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father, mother and brother - sees her family effectively destroyed - she plainly suffers severe
emotional and developmental injury").
Under international law, specifically the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child,22 the
violation of the fundamental rights of children may rise to the level of persecution. Such rights include
the right to be registered with authorities upon birth and to acquire a nationality (Art. 7.1), to remain
with one's family (Art. 9.1), to receive an education (Art. 28), and to be protected from economic
exploitation (Art. 32).
Is proving a child suffered past persecution enough to be

granted asylum?
It depends. If the child proves she has suffered past persecution, there is a rebuttable presumption
that the child's life or freedom would be threatened in the future on the same basis.23 As a result, the
burden shifts to the government to show:
There has been a fundamental change in circumstances such that the child no longer has a
well-founded fear on the basis of a protected ground24 ; or
The child could avoid persecution by relocating to another part of the country, and that it
would be reasonable to expect the child to do so.25
Relevant factors when determining the reasonableness of internal relocation include, but are not
limited to, whether the child would face other serious harm; ongoing civil strife; administrative,
economic or judicial infrastructure; geographical limitations; and social and cultural constraints, such
as age, gender, health, and social/familial ties.26
If the child has established past persecution, or the persecutor whom the child fears is the
government or is government-sponsored, there is a presumption that internal relocation would not be
reasonable.
However, if the child has not established past persecution, or the persecution she fears is not by the
government or government-sponsored, the child bears the burden of proving that internal relocation
would not be reasonable.27
Finally, if the government rebuts the presumption of a well-founded fear, and proves that the child
lacks a basis for present or future persecution, a child may still be granted asylum if: (1) the severity
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of the past persecution was such that there are compelling reasons for her to be unwilling or unable to
return to her home country; or (2) there is a reasonable possibility that she may suffer other serious
harm if returned.28

An unaccompanied child may have special factors associated with her situation that makes relocation
unreasonable. For example, if the child's family is located in her hometown, no one would be able to
take care of the child should she relocate to another part of the country.
If my client has not suffered past persecution, is she still

eligible for asylum?
Yes, if you can establish that your client has a well-founded fear of future persecution then your client
is still eligible for asylum. A child who has not suffered persecution in the past may still establish her
eligibility for asylum based on a well-founded fear of persecution in the future.
It is not necessary to prove that it is more likely than not that the person will be persecuted.
The U.S. Supreme Court recognized that even a ten percent chance of persecution would
satisfy the well-founded fear requirement.29
What are the requirements for establishing a well-founded fear

of persecution?
In Matter of Mogharrabi, the BIA laid out a four-part test for establishing asylum eligibility based on a
well-founded fear:30
1. The applicant possesses a belief or characteristic that a persecutor seeks to repress in others
by means of punishment of some sort.
2. The persecutor is already aware, or could become aware, that the respondent possesses this
belief or characteristic.
3. The persecutor has the capacity to punish the respondent.
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4. The persecutor has the inclination to punish the respondent.31
How does the child establish a well-founded fear?

A child must establish that her fear is both subjectively real and objectively reasonable.32 The
subjective requirement goes directly to the applicant's state of mind. The child must show that she
fears returning to her country of origin and that this fear is genuine.33
To meet the objective requirement, the child must demonstrate that, given the evidence presented, a
reasonable person in similar circumstances would experience a fear of persecution.34
In addition, it is not necessary to establish that there is a reasonable possibility that the child would be
singled out individually for persecution as long as the child can establish (1) that there is a pattern or
practice of persecution of a group of persons similarly situated to the child (on account of a protected
ground); and (2) that her inclusion in, and identification with, that group is such that her fear is
reasonable.35

It may be more difficult for children to demonstrate both the objective and subjective requirement
because a child may not be able to articulate her own fear or know she should be afraid.36
The UNHCR Handbook suggests that children under the age of 16 may lack maturity to form a well-
founded fear of persecution, thus requiring the adjudicator to give more weight to objective factors.37
"Minors under 16 years of age . . . may have fear and a will of their own, but these may not have the
same significance as in the case of an adult."38 Further, a child's subjective fear should be evaluated
within the context of the child's situation or her personal, family, and cultural background.39
A well-founded fear of persecution may be supported by mistreatment of a child's family in the home
country. The First Circuit concluded that evidence of mistreatment of one's family is probative of a
threat to the applicant.40 Conversely, if the child's family does not relocate and is not harmed, the
likelihood of an objectively reasonable fear may be reduced. The failure to relocate may nonetheless
be overcome when it is due to a parent's conflict of interest rather than a decreased threat to the child.
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The circumstances of a child's arrival in the United States may provide evidence as to whether the
child has a well-founded fear of persecution. If the child arrives in the company of other asylum
seekers (including family members) who have been found to have a well-founded fear of persecution,
this may help to establish that the child's fear is well-founded.41
What else is needed to establish persecution?

In addition to demonstrating that the harm a child has suffered amounts to persecution, the
applicant must also show that such persecution is on account of one of five protected grounds:
her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. This
requirement is often referred to as the nexus requirement.
What if my client is also being persecuted for a reason that is

not a protected ground?
The evidence may demonstrate that there are multiple reasons why the persecutor harmed or seeks
to harm the child. When the persecutor has mixed motives for harming the child, the child does not
need to prove that the persecution was perpetrated solely on account of a protected ground.42
However, with the passage of the REAL ID Act of 2005,43 INA § 208(b)(1)(B)(i) was amended to state
that asylum applicants must demonstrate that one of the enumerated grounds was, or will be, "at least
one central reason" for their persecution.44
When the child is unable to identify all relevant motives, a nexus can still be found if the objective
circumstances support the child's claim that at least one central reason for the past or future
persecution is a protected ground.45
How do I prove that persecution is on account of one of the

five protected grounds?
There are five grounds upon which a claim to asylum may be made. The burden is on the child to
establish that she belongs to the protected group on account of which she has suffered or fears
suffering persecution. Because children may lack, or have limited access to, evidence that helps to
establish their relationship to one of the protected grounds, testimony alone can be sufficient to
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establish a claim where the applicant credibly testifies that she is unable to procure documents.46
The grounds of membership in a particular social group and political opinion tend to be broader
categories that often require more factual development and provide for somewhat greater leeway in
their definitions.
The five enumerated grounds for asylum are:
1. Race. Race should be interpreted in a broad sense that includes, "all kinds of ethnic groups that
are referred to as 'races' in common usage."47
2. Religion. Religious persecution includes the "prohibition of membership in a particular religious

community, of worship in private or in public, or serious measures of discrimination imposed on
persons because they practice their religion or belong to a particular religious community."48
Note that an applicant may be persecuted on account of her religion even though she may not
in fact be particularly religious. The case law on religious-based persecution is rich and diverse.
Given establishing a new social group claim before the BIA is challenging, you should explore
the possibility of creatively crafting religious-based arguments instead. For example, an
applicant fleeing domestic violence has made a successful asylum claim based on religious-
based persecution.49
3. Nationality. Nationality includes citizenship, as well as "membership in an ethnic or linguistic

group."50
4. Membership in a Particular Social Group. This category is the broadest and most undefined
of the given protected grounds for asylum. This is where some of the most creative lawyering on
protecting non-conventional refugee claims has been developed. While this category is open to
broad interpretation, there are certain criteria you must establish for your client to prevail on a
social group claim. The UNHCR Handbook defines "particular social group" as "persons of
similar background, habit or social status."51 Such characteristics can include age, geographic
location, class or ethnic background, family ties, and sexual orientation.
Under U.S. law, you must show that a child's persecution based on membership in a particular
social group meets a two-part test.
1. First, the BIA held, in the seminal social group case Matter of Acosta that members of a
particular social group must "share a common immutable characteristic...[which]... the
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members of the group either cannot change, or should not be required to change because
it is fundamental to their individual identities or consciences."52 Some examples of such
characteristics include sexual orientation, age, color, familial ties, and shared past
experiences. Social group claims often overlap with one or more of the other protected
grounds. However, if a group is large or amorphous it is less likely to qualify as a particular
social group;53 and
2. Second, the BIA has recently taken the position that a social group must be "socially
visible"54 - meaning recognizable and distinct.55
5. Political Opinion. To have a political opinion for purposes of asylum, it is not necessary for the
child to necessarily be involved in politics or be a member of a political party. Political opinion
may include non-political activities, beliefs or associations that have a political context or effect.
The persecution must be based on the victim's political opinion, not the persecutor's political
opinion.56 However, the victim does not have to profess an actual opinion; a political opinion
may be imputed to the victim.57
When a child claims persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of political
opinion, the age and maturity of the child must be taken into account. A young child may be
unable to articulate her political opinion. However, age alone does not prevent a child from
holding political opinions for which she may have been or will be persecuted.58 It is also
possible that a child may face persecution based on the imputed political beliefs of family
members or some other group with which the child is identified.59
What are some legal arguments for children seeking asylum?

Lawyers have been the most successful in winning asylum for children by arguing that their child
client belongs to a particular social group worthy of refugee protection. The following are examples of
the types of social groups that have been successful for child applicants.
Gang-based persecution
Asylum claims based on gang persecution, harassment, recruitment, and victimization are common,
especially among children from Central America. However, the success of these claims in immigration
courts across the country has varied. In addition, many federal circuits have refused to recognize
individuals fleeing gang persecution as constituting a particular social group.
On July 30, 2008, the BIA published two decisions affecting gang-persecution asylum claims: Matter
of E-A-G60
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, and Matter of S-E-G.61 These two cases now mark the standard in gang-based asylum, establishing
that a particular social group must have social visibility in which "the shared characteristic of the
group should generally be recognizable by others in the community." Based on this reasoning, the
BIA found that those fleeing gang recruitment and/or gang violence do not constitute a particular
social group as they lack social visibility.
For a gang-based claim to prevail, your child client must show two criteria to meet the social group
definition:
1. First, the child must show that she belongs to a social group as defined by the BIA in Matter of
Acosta.62 Specifically, the child must be a member of a group that has a common immutable
characteristic which the child is unable to change, or should not be required to change because
it is fundamental to the child's identity or conscience; and
2. Second, that the group is socially visible as defined by the BIA in the decisions Matter of E-A-G
and Matter of S-E-G.
Gang-based asylum claims can still be successful, if the argument is carefully crafted. You will have
to use creativity and distinguish the specific facts of the child's claim from the underlying facts in the
BIA decisions of Matter of S-E-G and Matter of E-A-G.
In a case in the Sixth Circuit, Urbina-Mejia v. Holder63 , the court held that while being a member of a
gang may not be considered to be a social group, being a former gang member is a trait that an
asylum applicant cannot simply "cast off." Advocates are also finding success by shifting the
protected ground from particular social group to that of persecution based on account of religion or
political opinion.
Domestic violence
Both children and adults may claim asylum based on domestic violence although the law regarding
domestic violence-based claims is still unsettled. In 1995, legacy INS issued the INS Gender
Guidelines to assist asylum officers in their determinations of gender-based asylum claims, including
such issues as domestic violence, rape, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, and honor killings -
issues which have a greater tendency to take place in the private realm, as opposed to the public. In
issuing the Guidelines, the INS recognized that under certain circumstances, persecution that occurs
in the private realm is a basis for asylum.
Further, in 1996, an immigration judge granted asylum to Rodi Alvarado, a Guatemalan woman who
had fled years of significant abuse and domestic violence at the hands of her husband. She had tried
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numerous times to escape him and to obtain help from the authorities - all to no avail. In granting
asylum to Alvarado, the immigration judge found that she had suffered persecution on account of her
actual and imputed political opinion, as well as membership in a particular social group. The INS
appealed the grant of asylum, and the BIA overturned the immigration judge's decision, stating that
the respondent had failed to demonstrate that the persecution she suffered was on account of a
protected ground.64 Alvarado subsequently appealed the BIA's decision and in 2008, the Attorney
General certified the case and ordered the BIA to reconsider it.
Meanwhile, as the result of a request from Alvarado's attorneys in a joint motion with DHS, the BIA
remanded the case back to the immigration judge in order for Alvarado to present evidence regarding
the social visibility of her proposed social group, in light of recent case law (Matter of E-A-G- and
Matter of S-E-G-).
In late 2009, Alvarado was finally granted asylum based on membership in a social group consisting
of "married women in Guatemala who are unable to leave the relationship", after a fourteen year legal
battle.65
While the Matter of R-A- was pending, in 2000 the federal government proposed regulations to
address adjudicating gender-based asylum claims and the social group nexus.66
In 2009, the Obama administration opened the way for foreign women who are victims of severe
domestic beatings and sexual abuse to receive asylum in the United States.67 The Administration laid
out its position in an immigration appeals case in which a Mexican woman, identified as "L.R.", had
been repeatedly raped at gunpoint by her husband, whom she feared would murder her should she
return to her home country. The administration presented a narrow set of circumstances in which an
abused woman may qualify for asylum if (1) the abused woman could demonstrate that women are
viewed as subordinate by their abuser, and that (2) domestic abuse is widely tolerated in the
applicant's country. Under such circumstances, victims of severe physical or sexual abuse could be
deemed to qualify as a particular social group.68
Female genital mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) "is the collective name given to a series of surgical operations,
involving the removal of some or all of the external genitalia, performed on girls and women primarily
in Africa and Asia."69 Evidence of FGM may serve as the basis for an asylum claim, withholding of
removal, or a claim under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).70
Specifically, most federal circuits and the BIA recognize FGM as a form of persecution.71 The BIA, for
example, has characterized FGM as a form of "sexual oppression ... to ensure male dominance and
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exploitation," practiced in order to "overcome sexual characteristics of young women . . . who have
not been, and do not wish to be, subjected to FGM."72
Alternatively, asylum claims may be based on a well-founded fear of persecution based on the fear
that a daughter will suffer FGM upon arrival at the applicant's home country.73 Often in these claims,
the child's mother was previously subjected to the experience, and a strong case can be made based
on the mother's mental and physical reaction to the procedure.
Gender alone does not constitute a social group and is not sufficient to establish asylum status.
However, a narrowly tailored social group, such as "women opposed to FGM who belong to an ethnic
group that practices FGM" has been successful.74
In cases involving FGM, a person subjected to the practice can claim past persecution as well as a
well-founded fear of future persecution because FGM has been deemed a continuing harm. While the
continuing harm principal has been tested, current case law holds that despite the permanent and
irreversible nature of FGM, the harm of the act can be considered ongoing due to continued physical
and psychological issues and is therefore a continuing form of harm.75
Note that although the FGM may rise to the level of persecution, in order to qualify for asylum, the
applicant must still prove a prima facie case, specifically that the applicant has a well-founded fear of
persecution in her home country on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a social
group, or political opinion.76
Street children
Although a child may be forced to live on the streets for a number of reasons, many street children
are unable to live at home due to violence or abuse. Their stories are among the most compelling
because individuals responsible for the child's well-being have abused or neglected the child.
Advocates have had varying degrees of success with arguing street children are refugees and eligible
for asylum in the United States. The asylum claims are typically based on the child's membership in a
particular social group, e.g., the social group of "Honduran street children." Street child claims are
sometimes coupled with asylum claims based on the child's membership in a family, and abuse the
child has suffered as a result of being part of that family. For example, a child may have suffered past
persecution based on her membership in a family in the form of domestic violence. That persecution
may have led the child to live on the streets, or it may be the reason the child cannot return home. As
a result, if the child were returned to her home country, she would be forced to live a life on the
streets.
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In most jurisdictions, no binding precedent exists that would prohibit an immigration judge or asylum
officer from granting an asylum claim based on a street child social group. The only exception is the
Third Circuit where there is unfavorable precedent. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Escobar v.
Gonzales held that Honduran street children do not constitute a particular social group.77 The court
reasoned that "[p]overty, homelessness and youth are far too vague and all encompassing to be
characteristics that set the perimeters for a protected group within the scope of the Immigration and
Naturalization Act."
The BIA has not yet issued a published opinion on street child asylum claims. The BIA has, however,
issued two unpublished decisions finding that street children can constitute a social group.78 The BIA
decisions, as well as numerous immigration judge decisions (not published) can be submitted when
briefing the issue. Although not binding, the decisions may serve as persuasive authority.79
What are the legal bars to being granted asylum?

Bars to asylum can be grouped into two categories. First, there are bars to asylum applicants that
deal with when an asylum applicant should not be permitted to access the asylum process because
the person is eligible for some type of protection in a third country, has already applied for asylum, or
missed a filing deadline. The second class of bars are actions the asylum applicant has committed
prior to being granted asylum that deem the applicant "unworthy" of being granted asylum protection.
Actions include criminal conduct, terrorism, or the persecution of others.
Bars to accessing the asylum adjudication process:
Firm resettlement
An applicant who was firmly resettled in another country prior to arriving in the United States is not
eligible for asylum.80 For an applicant to be deemed "firmly resettled" means the applicant received
an offer of some part of permanent status from another country.
An applicant is not firmly resettled if the applicant establishes that:
The applicant's entry into that country was a necessary result of this flight from persecution, and
she remained there only long enough to arrange continued travel, and did not establish
significant ties to that country; OR
The conditions of such permanent status are so "substantially and consciously restricted" that
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she cannot be said to have actually resettled (i.e., housing/employment available, right to hold
property, right to travel, right to education or public assistance, right to naturalize, etc.).81 In
other words, an applicant who merely "passes through" a country on her way to the United
States, or even temporarily resides in another country in preparation for continued travel to the
United States (e.g., to earn money for a plane ticket), will not be considered to be firmly
resettled.

In interpreting whether a child is firmly resettled, asylum officers will consider that a child's status in a
third country is generally the same as her parents' status. The BIA has long held that a parent's firm
resettlement status is imputed to his or her children - thus, if the parents were firmly resettled, their
status will be imputed to the child.82
Firm resettlement is not a bar to withholding of removal. If an unaccompanied child has a firm
resettlement issue, she may still pursue withholding of removal relief.
Safe third country

Generally, if an asylum seeker can be removed to a safe third country pursuant to a bilateral
agreement, the child is ineligible to apply for asylum.83 Currently, Canada is the only country with
which the United States has a safe third country agreement. This means if an applicant applying in
the United States for asylum passed through Canada prior to arriving in the United States, the
applicant must apply in Canada for asylum.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 provides an explicit exception for
unaccompanied children. They are not barred from seeking asylum even if there is a safe third
country agreement.84
One-year filing deadline

The one-year filing deadline does not apply to unaccompanied minor principal applicants.85 The one-
year filing deadline does apply to minor principal applicants who are living with a parent or legal
guardian and for adult principal applicants.
Keep in mind that, to meet the definition of an unaccompanied alien child, the child cannot have lawful
immigration status. If a child is not living with a parent or legal guardian but is in lawful status, the
child is not considered an unaccompanied child and therefore is not categorically exempt from the
one year filing deadline.86
Previous asylum application
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If a child has filed a previous asylum application and has been denied asylum, this person may not re-
apply for asylum unless there is a change in circumstances affecting eligibility.87
Prior actions barring a grant of asylum
Persecution of others
An alien who has persecuted others on account of a protected ground is not eligible for asylum.
88 The U.S. Supreme Court in March 2009 reversed the denial of asylum and withholding of
removal for a person who was compelled under threat of death or torture to participate in acts of
persecution, holding that the BIA and Fifth Circuit erred in presuming that the coercion was
immaterial.89 The Court remanded the case to the BIA to address where, under the INA,
motivation or intent in assisting in the persecution of others is material for persecutor-bar
purposes. The outcome of this case will be relevant for those children who were forced under
duress or threat of death to commit acts of persecution and who are now seeking asylum in the
United States.
Serious crimes
Particularly serious crime/aggravated felony
NOTE: If a child is under age 16, or was tried as a juvenile (may be age 16-18), a conviction of a
particularly serious crime is not a bar to asylum.90 However, such a conviction may be a basis for a
denial or referral as a matter of discretion.
Serious nonpolitical crime

A child for whom there are reasons to believe that she committed a serious nonpolitical crime
outside the United States is not eligible for asylum.91
NOTE: You should pay particular attention to this bar if your client has a history - to any extent - as a
child soldier in her home country (whether under duress or not).92
Terrorism and threat to national security

Threat to National Security: An alien for whom reasonable grounds exist for regarding her as a
danger to the security of the United States is not eligible for asylum.93
Terrorism: A child who has had some sort of involvement in terrorist activity, or for whom there
are reasonable grounds to believe that she is engaged in, or likely to engage in terrorist activity,
is not eligible for asylum unless the U.S. Attorney General determines that there are no
reasonable grounds for regarding her as a danger to national security.94 See additional
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information on the material support bar found under the "additional resources" section.
What does the applicant need to show to merit a favorable

exercise of discretion?
Asylum is discretionary. It is not a mandatory form of relief. As a result, even after a child has
established that she is a refugee and eligible for asylum, the asylum officer or immigration judge must
still exercise discretion in determining whether asylum should be granted.95
This means that other outside factors, beyond the applicant's ability to qualify under the refugee
definition, are taken into consideration. The BIA has stated that in exercising discretion, the danger of
persecution should outweigh all but the most egregious adverse factors.96
What are the benefits for a child granted asylum?

A child who is granted asylum receives the legal status of "asylee." There are a number of important
benefits. An asylee is:
Allowed to remain in the United States.
May not be removed to the country of persecution.
Allowed to work.
Eligible for certain federal benefits.
Allowed to travel abroad with the prior consent of the U.S. Attorney General (with a refugee
travel document).
In addition:
The spouse or child of an asylee, who accompanies the asylee or follows to join her, may also
be granted derivative asylum.
After one year in asylee status, an asylee may apply for lawful permanent residency and may
eventually apply for citizenship.
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This status is important because a person with LPR status does not need additional work
authorization, has greater legal protections, and is eligible for certain government jobs and
educational loans. Five years after being granted LPR status, the individual is eligible to
apply for U.S. citizenship.
Once an asylee has been physically present in the United States for one year after the
grant of asylum, the asylee may apply to adjust her status as long as she continues to
meet the refugee definition, is not inadmissible,97 and has not firmly resettled in another
country.98
What is withholding of removal?

A child who is denied asylum, or who is not eligible to apply for asylum may still be eligible for
withholding of removal.99 To qualify for withholding, the child must establish that her life or freedom
would be threatened in the proposed country of removal on account of race, religion, nationality,
membership in a particular social group, or political opinion."100
What is the burden of proof in a withholding of removal claim?

The analysis of the nexus requirement, the protected ground requirement, and the internal relocation
requirement is the same for asylum and withholding of removal. However, the standard of proof
required for withholding is higher than that for asylum. While asylum only requires the applicant to
establish a "well-founded fear," an applicant for withholding must establish a "clear probability of
persecution."101 This is a purely objective standard, which means that your client must demonstrate
that it is more likely than not (i.e., 51 percent or higher likelihood) that her life or freedom would be
threatened.102
Unlike asylum, there is no discretion involved in a withholding of removal decision. An applicant who
meets the eligibility requirements for withholding of removal, and is not subject to one of the
mandatory bars, must be granted relief from removal.103
What are the bars to being granted withholding of removal?

There are four bars to withholding of removal:
1. Persecution of others
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An alien who has persecuted others on account of a protected ground is not eligible for withholding of
removal.104
In March 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the denial of asylum and withholding of removal for
a person who was compelled under threat of death or torture to participate in acts of persecution,
holding that the BIA and Fifth Circuit erred in presuming that the coercion was immaterial.105 The
Court remanded the case to the BIA to address where, under the INA, motivation or intent in assisting
in the persecution of others is material for persecutor-bar purposes. The outcome of this case will be
relevant for those children who were forced under duress or threat of death to commit acts of
persecution and who are now seeking asylum in the United States.
2. Particularly serious crime/aggravated felony

An alien who has been convicted of a "particularly serious crime" is not eligible for withholding of
removal.106 In addition, an alien who has been convicted of an aggravated felony is considered to
have been convicted of a particularly serious crime.107
If a child is under age 16, or was tried as a juvenile (may be age 16-18), a conviction of a particularly
serious crime is not a bar to withholding of removal.108
3. Serious non-political crime

A child for whom there are reasons to believe that she committed a serious nonpolitical crime outside
the United States is not eligible for withholding of removal.109
NOTE: You should pay particular attention to this bar if your client has a history- to any extent - as a
child soldier in her home country (whether under duress or not).110
4. Threat to national security

A child for whom reasonable grounds exist for regarding her as a danger to the security of the United
States is not eligible for withholding of removal.111
What does withholding of removal mean for my child client?

When a child is granted withholding of removal, a final order of removal is entered against her (and
the execution of the order is simply "withheld.")112 Those granted withholding have the ability to
legally live and work in the United States. However, the additional benefits of withholding of removal
are much more limited than those of asylum protection.
Withholding does not grant the applicant permanent legal status, or a means of obtaining
legal status in the United States.
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Withholding of removal is a temporary status that can be revoked or terminated under certain
circumstances (although in reality, those granted withholding of removal often remain in the
United States for many years, if not indefinitely). Those granted withholding of removal can still
be removed from the United States to a third country.113 In addition, withholding grantees can
be removed to their home country if circumstances change, and their lives or freedom will no
longer be threatened there.
A child who has been granted withholding of removal does not have the right to petition for her
spouse or children on that basis.
No travel document will be issued to those granted withholding of removal, nor will they be
given permission to re-enter should they depart the United States. Thus, a person granted
withholding of removal may not leave the United States.

You should seriously discuss the consequences of withholding of removal with your client. It has
become more common in recent years for the government (Office of Chief Counsel) or the
immigration judge to offer a grant of "withholding" instead of asylum as essentially a type of plea
bargain. Before the child's hearing, you should fully discuss with the child the possibility of being
granted withholding and to explain what it would mean for the child. For example, it is important that
the child understand that she cannot leave the United States once withholding is granted.
Understanding the child's goals and objectives will help better inform you as to the type of relief you
should or should not pursue on the child's behalf.
What is protection under the Convention Against Torture

(CAT)?
The United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CAT) prohibits the return of an individual to a country where there are substantial
grounds to believe that she would be tortured.114 One of the advantages of CAT relief is that it can be
requested even after a final order of removal has been issued. Further, the applicant does not need to
prove that her torture would be on account of a protected ground (no nexus requirement).
There are two possible forms of relief under CAT: withholding of removal or deferral of removal.
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1.Withholding of removal under CAT
Withholding of removal under CAT prevents the removal of the child to her home country if it is more
likely than not that she will be tortured. This form of relief should not be confused with the withholding
of removal form of relief discussed above, also known as "traditional withholding" under INA
241(b)(3)).
The mandatory bars to withholding under CAT are the same as the bars to traditional withholding of
removal.
2. Deferral of removal under CAT
There are no bars to relief under deferral of removal under CAT. Thus, if the child is subject to one of
the bars to withholding of removal, discussed above, the child can still be granted deferral of removal
instead.115 This form of protection is more temporary and DHS is more likely to terminate it should
circumstances change. Also, applicants granted deferral of removal under CAT may be detained.
What does an applicant need to prove to be granted CAT

relief?
Any applicant who establishes that it is more likely than not that she will be tortured if returned to her
country must be granted protection under CAT. Unlike asylum protection, protection under CAT is
mandatory, not discretionary.
The standard of proof under CAT is much higher than asylum. The applicant must prove that it is
"more likely than not" that she would be tortured if forced to return to the home country.116
Evidence to be considered includes evidence of past torture inflicted upon the applicant, evidence
that the applicant could not relocate internally, evidence of gross, flagrant or mass violations of
human rights within the country, and other relevant country conditions information.117
NOTE: Under regular withholding of removal, the applicant must prove that there is a nexus between
her persecution and one of the five enumerated grounds. With withholding of removal under CAT or
deferral of removal under CAT, there is no nexus requirement.
However, if the Secretary of State provides the U.S. Attorney General with assurances that she has
obtained assurance from a specific country's government that the individual would not be tortured
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there, and the Attorney General determines that such assurances are sufficiently reliable to allow the
individual's removal to that country, the individual's application for protection under CAT will be denied.
118
What actions constitute torture? 119
The BIA interprets the definition of torture as "an extreme form of cruel and inhuman treatment and
[that] does not extend to lesser forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of punishment.120
The definition of torture must include the following elements described below:
Severe physical or mental pain or suffering. The act must cause severe physical or mental
pain or suffering. Torture is an extreme form of cruel and inhuman treatment and does not
include lesser forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.121
Mental pain or suffering. Mental pain or suffering must be prolonged and must result from one
of the following:
1. intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe physical pain or suffering
2. administration or application, or threatened administration or application, of mind altering

substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the
personality
3. threat of imminent death, or
4. threat that another person will imminently be subjected to the above.
Intentionally inflicted. The act must be specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental
pain or suffering. An act that results in unanticipated or unintended severity of pain and suffering
is not torture.122
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For an illicit or proscribed purpose. The act must be committed for an illicit purpose. This
includes any discriminatory purposes, as well as such purposes as obtaining information or a
confession from the victim or a third person, punishing the victim for an act that she or a third
person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing the
victim or a third person.123
By, or at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official who
has custody or physical control of the victim. To constitute torture, an act must be directed
against a person in the offender's custody or physical control.124 In order for a public official to
have "acquiesced" to torture, it is necessary that the public official be aware of the act prior to it
being committed, and breach his or her legal responsibility to intervene to prevent it.125
Not arising from lawful sanctions. Pain and suffering arising only from, inherent in, or
incidental to lawful sanctions, which include judicially imposed sanctions and other enforcement
actions authorized by law, does not constitute torture.126
What does relief under CAT mean for my child client?

The effects of withholding of removal are the same whether a child obtains it by proving that it is more
likely than not that she will be tortured under CAT, or by proving a clear probability that her life or
freedom would be threatened under "withholding of removal" (see above).
Further, in the case of deferral of removal under CAT, an order of removal is issued but deferred, and
the child may not be removed to the country where she is more likely than not to be tortured until such
time as the deferral is terminated.127 However, the child may be removed to another country where
she is not likely to be tortured.128
Deferral of removal does not grant the child legal status, nor does it guarantee that a detained
individual will be released from custody.129
An individual granted CAT protection is not able to petition for family members
A non-detained child granted deferral of removal may apply for work authorization and work
lawfully in the United States
She may also be required to report regularly to the Department of Homeland Security
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Can CAT protection be terminated?

Yes. At any time, an order deferring removal may be reviewed and terminated by the immigration
judge if it is determined that it is not likely that the child would be tortured upon return to her
country.130 DHS may initiate a termination hearing by filing a motion with the immigration court, which
"shall be granted if it is accompanied by evidence that is relevant to the possibility that the alien would
not be tortured in the country to which removal has been deferred and that was not presented at the
previous hearing."131 A de novo determination is made, based on the original application and
proceedings, as well as additional evidence presented, and the child once again bears the burden of
establishing that it is more likely than not that she will be tortured if returned.132 A child may initiate
termination of the deferral order by making a written request to the immigration court.133 The deferral
order may also be terminated by the U.S. Attorney General if she receives sufficiently reliable
diplomatic assurances from the Secretary of State that the country's government will not torture the
individual.134
What are the nuts and bolts of applying for asylum?

An application for asylum requires a significant investment of time and resources. The preparation of
a meritorious application can take weeks, if not months, to complete. The result, however, can
provide a child with an opportunity to legally remain in the United States and enjoy a safe, stable, and
more optimistic future.
A child may be with or without legal status when applying for asylum. Further, it does not matter how
the child originally entered the United States (whether the child had lawful permission or not) or
whether the child has continuously maintained legal status while in the United States - in all cases,
the child has the right to apply for asylum protection.
A child can apply for asylum by filing an application with USCIS in a non-adversarial process.135 A
trained asylum officer in an asylum office interviews the child, and the process from beginning to end
is relatively quick for the applicant. If successful, the child will be granted asylum and avoid being
placed in removal proceedings.
Who is an unaccompanied alien child for USCIS?
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For purposes of the USCIS asylum program, an unaccompanied minor is a child who is under
eighteen years of age and who has no parent or legal guardian (refers to a formal legal/judicial
arrangement) in the United States who is available to provide care and physical custody. This
definition encompasses separated minors, e.g., those who are separated from their parents or
guardians, but who are in the informal care and physical custody of other adults, including family
members.
NOTE: A child who entered the United States with a parent or other adult guardian but who
subsequently left the parent's or guardian's care is considered an unaccompanied minor.
What happens when an unaccompanied child subsequently

reunites with a parent in the United States?
USCIS currently takes the position that if a child has reunited with a parent at the time of filing her
asylum application, she will no longer be considered an unaccompanied child. Further, even if a child
remains separated from a parent at the time of filing, USCIS will check again at the time of the asylum
interview to ensure that the child has not yet reunited with a parent.
NOTE: Please consult your KIND pro bono coordinator for the most up to date information as to how
both USCIS and EOIR are interpreting this issue.
What is the process?

An asylum officer (AO) at the USCIS Asylum Office hears the case, considers the evidence, and
makes a decision on the application in a non-adversarial, interview setting. Asylum officers are bound
by statutes, regulations, and BIA and federal court decisions. They also are required to follow the
guidance set forth in the Asylum Officer Basic Training Manual and legacy INS Guidelines for
Children's Asylum Claims.
If a child's affirmative asylum application is not approved by the asylum officer, and the child does not
have legal status in the United States at the time of denial, the child's case will be referred to
immigration court and removal proceedings will be initiated. The Asylum Office will issue a Notice to
Appear (NTA), which is the charging document that places the child into removal proceedings. The
charging document will also inform the child the date and time that the child must appear in
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immigration court to answer the allegations in the NTA and seek any relief for which the child is
eligible. Once in removal proceedings, the child can renew her asylum application as a defense from
removal and an immigration judge will then rule on the asylum application.
Which cases will be heard before the USCIS Asylum Office? 136
In the following scenarios, a child's initial asylum case will be heard before the USCIS Asylum Office if
the child:
Has never been in removal proceedings and will affirmatively apply for asylum under pre-
existing procedures.
Was placed in removal proceedings on or after March 23, 2009 and who seeks to file for asylum.
Is in pending removal proceedings, with a case on appeal to the BIA, or with a petition for
review in federal court as of December 23, 2008, who has previously submitted an asylum
application (Form I-589) as a UAC.
NOTE: It is USCIS's position that an unaccompanied child whose case was referred to immigration
court after having been affirmatively adjudicated by USCIS may not re-file with USCIS because
USCIS has already had initial jurisdiction of the case.137 Please consult your KIND pro bono
coordinator for any recent updates. Procedures and regulations regarding the above are still under
development.
If my child client is in removal proceedings, what is the

process for applying for asylum under the TVPRA?
For unaccompanied children in removal proceedings under the TVPRA the following process applies:
The child's removal proceedings should be suspended pending the decision of the asylum
officer (in many jurisdictions, immigration judges will grant a continuance instead of
administrative closure).
While in court, ICE will give the child written instructions on how to file for asylum with USCIS.
This UAC instruction sheet should then be included in the asylum package when the child
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submits his or her application by mail to USCIS.
The child will file the Form I-589 with the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) - although in certain
extenuating circumstances (including if the child is in ORR custody), the local Asylum Office
may consent to the child filing directly with that local office.
If the child's removal proceedings have not been terminated or administratively closed, the child may
requ st multiple continuances over time: first to file the asylum application with USCIS; and second, to
present a receipt for proof of filing, and to allow enough time for USCIS to adjudicate the application.
If USCIS grants the asylum application, the parties may request that removal proceedings be
terminated.
Does my child client have the "capacity" to apply for asylum?

Many complex issues are raised when a child applies for asylum without her parents' knowledge
and/or consent. For unaccompanied children, this may often be the case, since the child has either
been abandoned or lacks a parent who is capable of taking care of her.
NOTE: Should any of these issues arise, please consult your KIND pro bono coordinator for further
guidance.
Generally, any noncitizen in the United States, without regard to immigration status, has the right to
apply for asylum.138According to the USCIS Asylum Office however, "[u]nder certain circumstances .
. . the issue may arise as to whether a child lacks the capacity to assert this right to apply for asylum.
While there is no age-based restriction to applying for asylum, USCIS need not process . . .
applications if they reflect that the purported applicants are so young that they necessarily lack the
capacity to understand what they are applying for or, failing that, that the applications do not present
an objective basis for ignoring the parents' wishes."139 This issue seems to emerge specifically when
the child is applying for asylum against the expressed wishes of her parents.140
Further, federal regulations governing asylum adjudications generally do not permit the disclosure of
information to third parties regarding a child's asylum application due to confidentiality concerns.141
However, in the case of a young child who lacks the capacity to make immigration decisions, the
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asylum officer must determine who has the legal authority to speak for the child. Where a child lacks
capacity and a parent or legal guardian has the authority to speak for the child, notification of the
parent or legal guardian will not violate the asylum confidentiality provisions.
How do I prepare a successful asylum application?

The key to preparing a successful asylum application is to provide as much corroborating evidence as
possible. However, you must also ensure that each piece of evidence serves a specific purpose or
underlines a certain point in the case. Superfluous documentation only serves to annoy the asylum
officer or immigration judge. Further, the trial attorney may move to strike the documents based on
irrelevancy. You must be strategic in determining what is helpful and what is not. Thus, it is advisable
to specifically point out to the asylum officer, judge, and trial attorney exactly why each piece of
evidence is included. This can be done, for example, through an annotated table of contents.
How do I interview the child and establish trust?

Often you will not gain a comprehensive appreciation of the child's full asylum claim until you have
spent a significant amount of time with the child. This may require numerous meetings, especially
because children are often reluctant to divulge important details to unfamiliar adults. It may take time
to establish a trusting relationship before the child feels comfortable telling you the substantive and
often painful parts of her background.

Before initiating the fact-finding phase of the client meeting, you should spend time talking to the child
about non case-related topics to break the ice and establish rapport.
Furthermore, children often will not know or understand what information is most pertinent and
significant to their case. It is your job to elicit the most important information, which can sometimes be
a frustrating and time-consuming task. Thus, succeeding in getting a child to open up and discuss
traumatic details is perhaps the most important step in preparing the asylum application. In addition, it
encourages the child to become more comfortable speaking about her life and answering pointed
questions. This is a necessary skill that the child must develop to prepare for her asylum interview
and/or immigration court proceeding.

When concluding an interview session during which the child has recounted traumatic and difficult
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experiences, you should end the discussion by returning to neutral topics with which the interview
began, such as school, sports, etc. This approach will help to restore the child's sense of security and
normalcy at the conclusion of the interview.
NOTE: For more detailed guidance on how to work with children, please refer to the chapter in KIND's
manual on how to represent a child in immigration court.
How do I work with the child to gather evidence?

There are certain pieces of evidence that may be difficult or time-consuming to obtain. Thus, it is
important to start early when attempting to collect necessary evidence. Below are suggestions of
documentation that may be helpful in assembling a child's asylum case:
Identity of the applicant: birth certificate, baptismal certificate, national ID card, military service
records, and/or passport.
Applicant's family members: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates,

national ID cards, passports, and/or family photographs.
Persecution of the applicant: medical records, psychological records; photographs

establishing political involvement, religious participation, or involvement in a social group;
affidavits, statements, or letters from witnesses; arrest or conviction records; ID or membership
cards in a political, religious, or social group; newspaper articles that mention the applicant;
and/or photographs of wounds or scars.
Applicant's journey to the United States: photographs, receipts for transportation and hotels,
and/or letters from witnesses.
Discretionary factors: educational records in the United States; work records in the United
States if employment authorization has been provided; certificates from local law enforcement
authorities that the applicant has no criminal history; letters stating good moral character; ESL
certificates; and/or documentation reflecting involvement in a religious or social organization in
the United States.
Investigating the government's records
If your child client has come in contact with U.S. government officials you should investigate what
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records the government possesses. Usually, if your client has not been placed in removal
proceedings there will be no DHS documents available to request.
Form I-213. If an immigration officer has interviewed your client there will be a I-213 in your
client's A file. You should obtain and review the "Record of Deportable Alien" (Form I-213,
Record of Sworn Statement) prior to the submission of the child's affidavit or the completion of
the I-589 to avoid creating any inconsistencies with what is contained in the government's file. If
your client is in removal proceedings the government trial attorney will look to Form I-213 for
valuable information about the child, especially if the child has criminal issues.
If there are discrepancies between your client's testimony and the information contained in the I-
213, you will want to argue that the I-213 is inherently unreliable. In the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom study entitled "Report on Asylum Seekers in Expedited
Removal," dated February 2005, the Commission concluded that the Record of Sworn
Statements were "often incomplete and less than reliable."142
Review the court record. If the child is in removal proceedings, you should review the court's
record file (referred to as the Record of Proceeding (ROP)). The ROP consists of written
documents and the court recordings of all court hearings on the case. This file is different from
what is in the government trial attorney's file. You should be aware of all documents and
information that both the trial attorney and the immigration judge will rely on during the hearing.
The procedure differs for each jurisdiction as to how to review the court's file. In many
jurisdictions, you must file a Request to Review Record of Proceeding or Hearing Tape, or you
may request to review both. A copy of this form can be obtained from the immigration court
clerk. Upon filing this request, the immigration clerk will contact you to set up a date to review
the court's file and/or listen to the tape recording of all events occurring prior to your entry into
the case.
Request and review the child's ORR file. Consult your KIND pro bono coordinator for the
proper procedure).
What if my client does not have any corroborating evidence of

the asylum claim?
In many cases, it will be difficult to present eyewitnesses in support of the child's claim. Such
witnesses may still be in the child's home country, afraid to come forward, or no longer living. Further,
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the child's application may lack direct evidence in support of her case - especially if she fled from
home very quickly. This is not uncommon for asylum seekers, and the key is to learn how to work
around it. If you cannot obtain specific pieces of evidence such as a birth certificate, etc., you should
explain why such evidence is unavailable. This may be done in the child's affidavit, (e.g., "the rebels
arrived and we fled in such a hurry that we did not have time to collect our important documents. We
have never returned to our home although we have heard from neighbors that our entire village was
burned down by the rebels").
The child's testimony alone may be sufficient to establish eligibility for asylum, as long as it is credible,
detailed and persuasive.143
The legal brief

While not required, a legal brief can be used to educate the asylum officer or immigration judge, tie
together a comprehensive argument based on all of the evidence, and address any unique legal
issues.
The decision as to whether or not to submit a legal brief is based on a number of factors. Some
practitioners caution that it may be unadvisable to submit a brief early on in the application process
because there can be months of delay between the time the asylum application is submitted and the
actual interview or hearing. During the time after the application is submitted and before the hearing
takes place, a traumatized child may reveal additional information and the legal theory of the case
may shift as a result. Therefore, submitting a legal brief early in the case can cause unnecessary
credibility problems and legal hurdles.
Usually legal briefs are most effective when they are submitted to address a novel legal issue in the
case or to address an area where the law is unsettled. If the legal issues in your client's claim are
straightforward, spend your time working on preparing your client's affidavit.
The client affidavit

A personal declaration, or affidavit, explains a child's story in the child's own voice. However, it is
important to note that the use of declarations in children's asylum claims has the potential to provide
credibility problems and may result in discrepancies between what is on paper and what the child
testifies during the interview or later in court. For example if the case is first heard by an asylum
officer, who takes many notes, and then is heard by an immigration judge and the notes or the
testimony conflict with the written affidavit, your client may be deemed not credible. You should use
caution in making sure that the child is comfortable with all information submitted in any affidavit and
that the child will be able to recount the same information months later during the interview or hearing.
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If the child has particular memory problems as a result of trauma, you may want to reconsider
whether submitting a written affidavit is appropriate.
The best rule of thumb is to keep any affidavit narrow enough so that it provides value in support of
the child's claim but general enough so that the child is not "locked in" to specific details and dates
which she will then be forced to remember in an interview or on the witness stand.
In addition, when drafting your client's affidavit, it is important to keep the language and tone in the
applicant's own voice. You should pay close attention to the vocabulary used and the way in which
points are phrased or worded. While your role is to help the child verbalize her story in a clear and
concise manner, it can quickly become apparent to the adjudicator that you wrote the affidavit. For
example, it is highly unlikely that a child would use the word "persecution" in describing what
happened to her.144

To get started with drafting the affidavit, you may want to ask your child client to write a letter or
summarize on paper the significant events of her life and background. This will provide a good
starting point and enable you to follow up with additional questions. Also, the child may feel less
intimidated initially by writing these details down as opposed to talking about them with an unfamiliar
adult.
Expert witnesses and affidavits

Expert witnesses are most useful when highlighting the conditions of the child's home country and the
difficulties the child would face if forced to return. For cases involving traumatization of a child, the
expert may want to include information regarding the lack of availability of counseling or medical
services in the child's home country.
Psychological or mental health evaluation

When a child has suffered past trauma, it is helpful for the child to be evaluated by a mental health
expert to give weight and credibility to the claim. For example, the existence of post-traumatic stress
disorder may be at issue. An official diagnosis not only strengthens the client's story, but may also
help explain why the child may have memory problems, has difficulty talking about various topics, or
appears confused or devoid of emotion. Such explanations can be beneficial in rebutting a trial
attorney's claim that the child's testimony or actions demonstrate a lack of credibility.
Background on the country conditions

Asylum officers and judges do not appreciate applications that include voluminous country reports
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without any indication of the most relevant portions. In fact, the Immigration Court Practice Manual
requires that the relevant portions of background documents be highlighted or marked in some way.
145 You should draw attention to the most pertinent points of documents through tabbing,
highlighting, or ideally, including the exact page that you would like the officer or judge to review and
include an explanation of why it is relevant in an annotated table of contents.
U.S. State Department Human Rights Report. Great weight (depending on the federal circuit)
is given to the information provided in this report. All asylum applications should include this
report for the child's home country with relevant portions highlighted. If you feel that the report is
inaccurate or biased (a common criticism), you may want to find an expert who is willing to
testify on that point.
Other reports and documents highlighting the child's claim from other well-known sources
(e.g., the CIA, Amnesty International, Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service,
Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, United Nations agencies, etc).
Other pertinent evidence

Each asylum case is different and will often have claims requiring unique pieces of evidence. You
must decide what is relevant and necessary, e.g., letters from family and friends in the child's home
country that discuss the dangerous conditions occurring there since the child fled, documentary proof
of police reports or medical reports if the child's claim refers to them, etc. Any document not written in
English must be submitted with a certified translation (see below).
Copies and originals

USCIS requires that additional copies of the application and supporting documents be submitted
along with the original. Refer to the USCIS Form I-589 instructions for specific requirements. In
immigration court, the original Form I-589 must be filed with the immigration judge and a copy must
be served on the trial attorney. In addition, a third copy must be submitted so that the court may serve
the U.S. Department of State.
If requested, you should be prepared to present the originals of supporting documentation such as
birth certificates, death certificates, police reports, and medical reports. DHS may send these
documents for laboratory testing to determine their authenticity. However, never mail originals to
USCIS or to the court with the asylum application. Send only copies until the originals are requested.
Using specific dates

It is less likely that children, especially young children, will remember specific dates. While sometimes
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it is necessary to provide a specific date, there are many occasions when a date could be generalized
such as, "when I was five years old" or "in the spring of 2000," or "the year my parents got divorced."
This prevents children from having to recount specific dates which can become a potential credibility
trap should the trial attorney or judge ask about it and the child is unable to provide the correct
response.
Translations
An English translation and a certificate of translation certifying that the translation is true and correct
must accompany any documents written in a language other than English. This includes birth
certificates and other forms. As provided by the EOIR Immigration Court Practice Manual, the
following language must be included in a certificate of translation:
CERTIFICATE OF TRANSLATION
I, __________________________, am competent to translate from
(name of translator)
_____________________________ into English, and certify that the translation of
(language)
_________________________________________________________________
(names of documents)
is true and accurate to the best of my abilities.
_________________________________ _________________________________
(signature of translator) (typed/printed name of translator)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(address of translator)
_________________________________
(telephone number of translator)
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Change of address
If your child client changes addresses, the child must notify USCIS within 10 days. If the child is in
removal proceedings, she must also notify the immigration court within five days. See USCIS form
AR-11 and the appropriate EOIR form found in the EOIR Immigration Court Practice Manual. There
can be serious immigration consequences for failure to notify DHS of a change of address.
Where do I file my client's initial asylum application?

Affirmative asylum applications are submitted via mail to the USCIS Service Center with jurisdiction
over the place of residence. The instructions on the I-589 will clarify the address to which the
application should be sent. Once received, the Service Center will forward the application to the
nearest asylum office in the child's region and the child will receive an interview appointment notice.
The child will also receive a separate notice from USCIS to schedule an appointment to have her
fingerprints (biometrics) taken. Note that asylum applicants are not required to show picture
identification for their biometrics appointment.

Although not required, KIND recommends that any application be sent via overnight mail. At the very
least, the asylum application should be sent via certified mail, allowing for some sort of tracking
mechanism. The potential for lost or misplaced documents can be relatively high at USCIS and/or the
immigration court. USCIS will confirm in writing its receipt of the application via Form I-797.
Where do I file my client's asylum application if the child is

before an immigration judge?
Applications for non-UAC children who are in removal proceedings before the immigration judge
should file a defensive asylum application with the immigration court.
However, UAC children who are in removal proceedings before the immigration judge should file their
asylum application under the provisions of the TVPRA because the child is unaccompanied and
therefore the asylum application should be sent to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center. Please see
the specific filing instructions in TVPRA guidance issued by the USCIS Asylum Office.147
If the child's case was referred to the immigration court from the Asylum Office, the child is allowed to
re-file an entirely new application before the court or can simply make corrections or additions to the
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already existing application.
In these referred cases, you should submit the application to the immigration court that has
jurisdiction over the case. When the asylum application is initially filed with the court, USCIS
automatically sets up an appointment for children over 14 years to have their fingerprints taken.
Asylum applications are filed in open court at a master calendar hearing.
Unless the judge has set specific rules for her court, all evidence and supporting documents must be
submitted to the court at least 15 days before the individual merits hearing. If this deadline is missed,
the immigration judge may refuse to consider the evidence. For detained cases, filing deadlines are
set by the individual immigration court, so be sure to verify this with the immigration judge.
What is the work authorization "clock"?

Filing an asylum application will start a 180-day "clock" for the Asylum Office or immigration court to
complete adjudication. This timeframe is important because if it takes longer than 180 days, the child
is eligible to apply for work authorization (Form I-765). An applicant cannot receive a work
authorization document (EAD) before 180 days have elapsed from the filing of her initial asylum
application. Since it takes about 30 days for DHS to adjudicate the application, the child may file the
work authorization application after 150 days have elapsed, but she will not be eligible to receive an
EAD until after 180 days.
NOTE: The 180-day "clock" will stop for any delay caused by the asylum applicant. This includes
requesting a continuance from the court, or rescheduling an Asylum Office interview. Once the clock
is stopped, each subsequent day that passes will no longer count towards the 180-day wait time. The
applicant must have the clock "restarted" in order to continue accumulating 180 days - which is often
a very difficult task. In such situations, you must request that the clock be restarted - it's not done
automatically.
While receiving an EAD for the purpose of seeking employment may be less relevant for children, an
EAD often acts as a form of photo ID that may help the child obtain other benefits. It is recommended
to apply for an EAD even if the child is technically not old enough to work or does not want to work.
The status of the child's work clock may be determined by calling the EOIR main information line at 1-
800-898-7180. If you believe the child's clock is wrong, you should contact the local court
administrator.
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Can my client travel outside the United States while her

application is pending?
It is not recommended because there is no guarantee that if your client leaves the United States she
will be allowed back into the country to pursue her asylum claim even if she received permission to
leave the United States prior to departure. Upon re-entry, the asylum applicant must be inspected by
an immigration inspector from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who will determine whether
the asylum applicant will be allowed to reenter. If the child has any inadmissibility issues (most
common are adult criminal convictions), she may be denied admission.
However, if your client has to leave the United States for extenuating circumstances, she must first
obtain advance parole. Advance parole, which is filed using Form I-131, Application for Travel
Document, allows certain aliens to return to the United States without a visa after traveling abroad. An
asylum applicant who leaves the United States without first obtaining advance parole will be
presumed to have abandoned her asylum application and it will be denied or terminated.
Most importantly, if the child returns to her country of claimed persecution, even after receiving
advance parole, she will be presumed to have abandoned her request for asylum, unless she is able
to show compelling reasons for her return.
What should I expect at the asylum interview?

The asylum interview takes place in a relatively informal setting in an USCIS office. The asylum
officer will conduct the interview while seated behind a desk with you and the child sitting across from
the officer. The interview is intended to take place in a non-adversarial manner.
The interview will generally last at least one hour and will be recorded by the asylum officer. First, the
child will be asked to take an oath promising to tell the truth during the interview. The asylum officer
will verify the child's identity and ask basic biographical questions. The asylum officer will then ask the
child about the substantive parts of her claim and determine if any asylum bars apply. The officer is
also looking for any inconsistencies between the child's testimony and the information on her I-589.
Asylum officers are instructed to present the child applicant with any adverse information and to
provide her with an opportunity to explain or provide clarification. When adverse information is
discovered after the interview, the asylum officers are instructed to consider scheduling a follow-up
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interview to provide the child with an opportunity to correct or clarify the record.
A final decision will not be made at the asylum interview. You and the child will be asked to return to
the Asylum Office to receive the decision in person. If you or the child resides at a significant distance
from the office, the decision will be sent via regular mail within a few weeks.
It is important for both you and the child to understand that applying for asylum affirmatively carries
with it certain risks. Specifically, a child without legal status will likely be put into removal proceedings
if the asylum officer does not grant the application.
Can I file supporting materials once the application is filed

with USCIS?
Yes. An applicant is permitted to amend or supplement an application at the time of the asylum
interview or beforehand by submitting written notice or an erratum. For example, you may come
across pertinent information after the time of the original submission that you would like to provide to
the asylum officer. Alternatively, it may come to your attention that a mistake has inadvertently been
made on the I-589, the affidavit, or elsewhere in the client's application. You have a duty to bring this
mistake to the attention of the adjudicator so it may be corrected on the record.
What documents should I bring with my client to the

interview?
The following documents, if available, should be brought to the interview:
Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance.
A form of identification for the child, including any passport, travel or identification documents,
and the Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record (if your client received one).
Originals of any birth certificates, marriage certificates, or other documents previously submitted
with Form I-589.
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Copy of the asylum application in case the asylum office is missing any of the information.
Any additional available items documenting the child's claim that have not already been
submitted with the application.
Certified translations of all documents not in English.
If the non-UAC child is married or has children under 21 at the time of filing the application and
are included as derivatives, they must also appear for the interview and bring any identity,
travel, or other supporting documents they have in their possession. Again, only those who will
be included as dependents in the asylum decision must attend the interview (this is only
required for spouses or children living in the United States).
What are special considerations for children being

interviewed?
The child's testimony
All asylum officers are provided with basic training in adjudicating children's asylum claims.
Specifically, as discussed above, the "Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims" (the "Guidelines")148
provide asylum officers with child-sensitive interview procedures and guidance regarding the most
common issues that may arise in these cases. This includes tailoring the interview to the child's age,
stage of language development, background, and level of sophistication. For example, as stated in
the Guidelines:
The child may be reluctant to talk to a stranger due to embarrassment or emotional upset and
past trauma. Asylum Officers may have to build a rapport with the child to elicit claims and to
enable the child to recount his or her fears and/or past experiences. Several steps described
below may be helpful in building rapport with a child and encouraging communication. Keep in
mind that, from the point of view of most applicants - including children - Asylum Officers are
authority figures and foreign government officials. Officers must also be culturally sensitive to the
fact that every asylum applicant is testifying in a foreign environment and may have had
experiences, which give him or her good reasons to distrust persons in authority.
Evidence
A child cannot be expected to testify with the precision and accuracy of an adult. The UNHCR
Handbook states that children's testimony should be given a liberal "benefit of the doubt" with respect
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to evaluating a child's fear of persecution.149 While, like adults, a child may rely solely on her own
testimony to meet the burden of proof, certain easily verifiable facts central to the child's claim may
require corroborating evidence.150 As a result, a child through her attorney may be expected to
produce such documentation or offer a reasonable explanation as to why such documentation is
unavailable.
Can witnesses testify at the asylum interview?

Yes. A child may present witnesses to testify on her behalf. There are no restrictions on witnesses
with regard to their number, age, their own asylum or immigration status, or the relationship to the
child. It is recommended that a witness be presented if the witness can help corroborate the child's
case or provide an expert opinion regarding the child's previous trauma.
Will USCIS provide an interpreter at the asylum interview for

my client?
No. USCIS does not provide interpreters during the asylum interview, except in the case of hearing-
impaired applicants, or if the child is in ORR custody at the time of the interview.151 You must bring
an interpreter if the child does not speak English well enough to proceed with the interview. Even if
your client can communicate in English, oftentimes the client will feel more comfortable discussing her
claim in her native language, particularly as the child will already be nervous about the interview itself.
In addition, your client will most likely be able to testify with greater specificity about her claim in her
native language than in English. If you bring an interpreter to the interview, ideally you should have
worked with this individual on multiple occasions and used this interpreter for a mock interview.
The interpreter must be fluent in English and must be at least 18 years old. The following persons
cannot serve as an interpreter: the attorney or representative of record, a witness testifying on the
client's behalf at the interview, or a representative or employee of the government of the client's home
country.
What is my role in the asylum interview?

Your role is limited in an asylum interview. You may be present to ensure that the asylum officer
conducts the interview in a fair and impartial manner and to clarify any issues or questions that arise
should the officer ask for clarification. If allowed, you may question the client about important issues
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or facts that the officer failed to address. You will also have time at the end of the interview to make a
statement or add any additional information. This is an opportunity for you to summarize the client's
claim and end the interview on a strong note. This is also a chance to draw attention to any important
documents included in the application. In many cases, the officer has spent only a few minutes before
the interview reviewing the child's file.
In addition, you have a right at any time during the interview to request a supervisory asylum officer to
be present during the interview.
Lastly, Asylum Office guidelines also allow for the presence of a "trusted adult" to attend an asylum
interview with the child to establish conditions in which the child feels safe, secure, and comfortable
answering questions regarding her case. As appropriate, the trusted adult may provide clarification
but generally does not interfere with the interview or in any way fulfill the role of an attorney. Both you
and a trusted adult may accompany the child to an asylum interview.
Potential issues and areas of concern of which you should be alert for during the interview:
You should bring any age, developmental, or trauma considerations to the asylum officer's
attention before the interview begins - simply to ensure that the officer is aware of special
considerations and conducts the interview accordingly
It is appropriate that a child be able to take multiple breaks during the interview. If the child is
uncomfortable or needs a brief recess, you should make such a request to the officer.
You should listen intently to the way each question is worded and/or phrased. Particular
language used by the officer may be unclear or confusing to a child. For example, the question
"were you persecuted" could easily be rephrased to a similar question such as "were you hurt?"
You should bring any such concerns to the officer's attention so that she may clarify the
question.

If the child requires particular accommodations, e.g., a child who is deeply traumatized, or two
siblings who wish to have their cases heard jointly, you should contact the Asylum Office supervisor,
before the interview so that the office can make any advance preparations necessary. You will want
the asylum officer who will be hearing the case to be experienced in working with children.
What if my client can't make the scheduled interview date?
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If it is necessary to reschedule the interview, a request letter must be mailed in advance to the asylum
office, or else you must appear in person and complete a "Request to Reschedule Asylum Interview."
The Asylum Office will reschedule an interview if it is the child's first request for rescheduling and the
request is received prior to the interview date.
NOTE: A request to reschedule an interview will stop the child's work authorization "clock" (see
above).
What about parents and legal guardians?

As will be the case in most situations when working with unaccompanied children, a child who
remains unaccompanied at the time of her asylum interview will not have a parent or legal guardian
present. When this is the case, the asylum officers will likely inquire into the location of the child's
parents, and whether the parents are aware of the child's whereabouts and that the child has applied
for asylum.152
The asylum officer basic training course states that in some cases, it may be appropriate to delay
adjudication of a case after the interview so that the child can provide further information or
documentation about the guardianship arrangement and/or parental knowledge of, and consent to,
the asylum application, where such information could be reasonably available, and if there are
unresolved questions that the documentation could help answer. However, a child's inability to
demonstrate a guardianship arrangement or parental knowledge and consent does not foreclose the
adjudication of the application or a grant of asylum.153
As mentioned previously in this chapter, if the Asylum Office finds that the child has in fact reunified
with a parent or legal guardian, current USCIS guidelines instruct the asylum officer to declassify the
child as an unaccompanied child. In other words, even if the child was truly unaccompanied at the
time of filing her application, if at the time of the interview the child is living with a parent or guardian,
they will not be able to benefit from unaccompanied children's status.
NOTE: This issue and USCIS's interpretation is still currently under review. Please ask your KIND pro
bono coordinator for the most up to date information.
What if my client fails to show up for the interview?
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If for some reason the child does not appear at the interview, USCIS must receive a written
explanation within 15 days after the date of the scheduled interview. The Asylum Office director has
discretion to reschedule the interview if provided with a reasonable explanation for the failure to
appear. Otherwise, if the child is not in status at that time, the case may be referred to immigration
court. Failure to appear at the interview may also affect eligibility to apply for work authorization.
What happens when a decision is rendered?

The asylum officer may (1) approve, (2) deny, or (3) "refer" an asylum application to the immigration
court. According to the USCIS website, an affirmative asylum applicant is usually interviewed within
43 days of the application's submission and a final decision is received approximately 14 days after
the interview (although processing times may vary in differing locations).
If the asylum officer approves the application, the child will receive a grant of asylum and be allowed
to legally live and work in the United States. Alternatively, it is also possible that the asylum officer
may issue a "recommended approval" meaning that the officer has determined the child to be eligible
for asylum but that a final decision is being held pending identity and security checks. Once your
client clears the security checks USCIS will then issue a final grant of asylum.

All asylum applications submitted by minors are referred to the asylum office headquarters (HQASM)
before a final decision is made. All asylum claims filed by principal applicants under the age of 18 at
the time of filing must be submitted by the asylum officer to HQASM for a quality assurance review
before they can be finalized. This requirement applies regardless of whether the applicant is
considered an unaccompanied minor. This review may cause delays in receiving a decision.
What about children who are in legal status at the time of their
asylum decision?
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If the asylum officer decides that the child does not meet the necessary criteria for asylum, a Notice of
Intent to Deny (NOID) will be issued to them. The NOID letter gives the reasons the officer is
recommending denying the claim and provides the applicant an opportunity to provide additional
documentation or evidence in support of her case. After such time, should the application be given a
final denial, the applicant will be permitted to remain in the United States through the duration of her
legal status.
The applicant may not reapply (at any time) for asylum in the United States without demonstrating
changed circumstances that affect that applicant's eligibility for asylum.
What about children out of legal status at the time of their

asylum decision?
If the asylum officer decides not to approve an asylum application and the child is out of legal status,
the case will be referred to the immigration court and removal proceedings will be initiated.
Technically, under these circumstances, the application is not "denied" but simply "referred" to the
court.
NOTE: Under some circumstances, it may be possible to file a "motion to reconsider" with the Asylum
Office or asylum headquarters before the case is referred to immigration court. This can only happen
if the Notice to Appear has not been issued. Once the court receives the Notice to Appear, USCIS
loses jurisdiction over the case.
When before the immigration judge in removal proceedings, the child may renew her request for
asylum. Applications for asylum before an immigration judge are considered de novo, which means
all of the evidence will be considered for the first time, without the influence of the asylum officer's
opinion or findings.
Can I appeal USCIS's decision?

No. There is no administrative or judicial appeal of a decision of an asylum officer. Instead, the case
is referred to immigration court, as described above, and a request for asylum may be renewed
before the immigration judge. Any adverse decision of an immigration judge may be appealed
administratively to the Board of Immigration Appeals, and then to the circuit court of appeals.
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What about defensive asylum and adjudication in removal

proceedings?
If an asylum officer does not approve the asylum application, and the child does not have legal
immigration status at the time of the decision, DHS will issue a Notice to Appear (Form I-862).
Once the child is placed in removal proceedings, she may request asylum as a defense from removal.
This is referred to as defensive asylum because the child, while conceding that she does not have
valid immigration status and is removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act, is arguing that
she is a refugee and should be granted asylum.
By regulation, any application for asylum is deemed to also be an application for withholding of
removal. Unlike asylum officers, an immigration judge has jurisdiction to grant withholding of removal
or Convention Against Torture (CAT) protection in addition to asylum relief. In adjudicating the asylum
application, immigration judges are bound by statute, published BIA opinions, court of appeals
decisions from the child's specific federal circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions. While decisions
from other circuits may be cited, they will serve only as persuasive authority and are not binding.
At the removal hearing, an ICE trial attorney represents the government. It is the role of the trial
attorney to test the credibility, plausibility, and validity of the child's asylum claim in an adversarial
process.

Defensive asylum claims can be extremely intimidating for children - as a result of both the physical
surroundings of a courtroom, as well as having to answer many questions from unfamiliar adults,
including the judge and the trial attorney.
Can the child amend the asylum application before the

immigration judge?
After being placed in immigration court proceedings, the child may amend her asylum application. For
example, the child may submit amended pages of the application, as long as all changes are clearly
reflected. Such amendments must be filed with the court by the usual filing deadlines set in forth in
the EOIR Practice Manual (15 days in advance of the hearing) or by deadlines set by the immigration
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judge. A cover page with an appropriate caption, such as "AMENDMENT TO PREVIOUSLY FILED
ASYLUM APPLICATION" should accompany any amendment.154
NOTE: Affirmative asylum applications referred to an immigration court by the Asylum Office are
contained in the Record of Proceedings. Therefore, there is no need for the child to re-file the
application with the immigration court.
What is my client's immigration status once asylum is granted?

When individuals are granted asylum in the United States, they are referred to as "asylees." With a
few exceptions, asylees are entitled to reside in the United States indefinitely as evidenced by the
issuance of an I-94 (Record of Admission) by USCIS. To obtain Form I-94, the child must make an
appointment with USCIS. The child will need to bring a copy of the judge's order, two photos, and a
copy of her birth certificate. To make an appointment, visit USCIS's InfoPass webpage at:
http://infopass.uscis.gov/.
Is an asylee authorized to work once granted asylum?

Yes. Asylees have the right to work in the United States. In fact, an asylee does not need to apply
and receive an employment authorization document (EAD) before obtaining employment. Instead, an
asylee is legally able to work as of the date of the grant of asylum and needs only show proof of the
asylum grant by producing the I-94 card. However, it is a good idea to file an EAD application for your
client because many employers are unfamiliar with Form I-94 as proof of lawful status and an EAD is
more readily accepted. Further, an EAD may be helpful for a child as it serves as a picture ID,
demonstrating that she is present in the United States with lawful immigration status.
The EAD is typically granted for a two-year period, at which point it must be renewed. The first EAD
for an asylee is free, but thereafter the asylee must pay a fee to USCIS or request a fee waiver. For
specific details on how to file Form I-765, see the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov.

Even though a child asylee may receive immigration documents authorizing her to work in the United
States, the right to work will be a legal issue controlled by federal and state labor and employment
laws. When advising an asylee under 18 years old about the right to work, you should check with
state and federal laws as well as with school districts to determine if the child can work and if so, for
how many hours per day.
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Can my client apply for a social security card and other forms
of identification?
Yes. To obtain a social security card, a child must be lawfully present in the United States. An asylee
will need to present proof of status (form I-94 or an EAD) and in addition, the child must present proof
of age. Some Social Security Administration offices may accept an EAD as proof of age while others
may require an original birth certificate, with translation where necessary.155
To obtain an identification card or driver's license, some states require that a noncitizen show proof of
lawful status in the United States and provide a social security number. Again, Form I-94 or an EAD
will satisfy those requirements. For more detailed information on what documentation is required, visit
the state's Department of Motor Vehicles or Department of Public Safety's website.
What happens if my client moves after being granted asylum?

Any person who is a noncitizen in the United States, including asylees, must report any change of
address within 10 days to USCIS via Form AR-11. The form can be downloaded from USCIS's
website and can be filed electronically. Failure to report a change of address is a ground for
removability.
Does my client need to register for the selective service?

Yes, if the client is over 18 years old. Any male living in the United States between the ages of 18 and
25 must register with the Selective Service System. Males can register on the Internet or at a local
post office.156
What kinds of social services programs are available to an

asylee?
Asylees in the United States can access social programs designed to provide basic resources and
training. Programs include cash and medical assistance, employment preparation, job placement, and
English language training. It is important to direct asylees to these benefits as soon as possible
because in certain instances there is a limited time during which an asylee can enroll in the social
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programs. In general, the asylee must apply within the first 30 days after the grant of asylum.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) administers the majority of these social programs. ORR
contracts with social service agencies such as Catholic Charities and Lutheran Immigrant and
Refugee Services (LIRS) to operate and manage these programs locally.157
Who can assist an asylee in accessing these benefits?

Asylees can call the "Asylum Information and Referral Line," based in New York, NY, by calling 1-800-
354-0365, to learn about local programs. The referral line is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC)158 and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC)159
are great resources to help asylee identify local programs that are available, as well as serve as a
resource for information on public benefits.
What is the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor's Program?

The Unaccompanied Refugee Minor's (URM) Program is a federal foster care system operated by
ORR for refugee and asylee children. Asylee children who do not have at least one parent in the
United States are eligible for the URM Program. Children who are granted asylum while in the
custody of ORR's Division of Children's Services (DCS), are automatically transitioned into the URM
Program after the grant of asylum unless one of their parents is present in the United States
(regardless of lawful immigration status).
Can my client travel outside of the United States after being

granted asylum?
Yes, but it is not recommended until your client is granted lawful permanent status (LPR). In order for
an asylee to travel outside the United States, the asylee must first obtain a Refugee Travel Document
(RTD) from USCIS. An asylee cannot travel using her passport and so the RTD serves as an
internationally recognized travel document that in theory provides the asylee re-entry into the United
States. However, the asylee still has to be granted permission to re-enter the United States by an
immigration officer. There is always a risk that the officer on the border may deny entry to an asylee
returning to the United States with a RTD. Therefore, KIND strongly recommends that you advise
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your client to wait to travel until she has been granted LPR status.
If your client must travel, an asylee can request an RTD by filing Form I-131 (Application for Travel
Document). Form I-131 must be filed with USCIS along with the appropriate fee or a fee waiver
request. The RTD must be requested before the asylee travels abroad and it must be done plenty of
time in advance to allow USCIS to process the request.
Can an asylee apply to bring family members located outside

the United States to the U.S.?
An asylee's spouse and children under age 21 can obtain derivative status through the asylee, the
principal applicant. Though not common in the case of an unaccompanied child, there will be
situations in which the child may have children of her own. To apply for derivative asylee status on
behalf of family members, the asylee must file Form I-730 with USCIS for each family member. The
deadline to file is two years from the asylee's grant of asylum. The form is fairly simple and requires
little documentation, mainly birth certificates and pictures.
When can an asylee apply for lawful permanent resident

status?
One year after obtaining asylee status, an asylee can apply to adjust her status to that of a Lawful
Permanent Resident (LPR) pursuant to INA § 209. Note that asylees and refugees adjust status
pursuant to a different provision in the INA than most other individuals applying to adjust status. Most
adjust status pursuant to INA § 245. There are different requirements in § 209 from § 245. For
example, an asylee is not barred from adjusting under § 209 for "being a public charge" by accepting
cash assistance. Under § 245 being a public charge can deem an applicant ineligible for adjustment.
Make sure to read the relevant portions of the INA.
To apply for LPR status, an asylee must file Form I-485 with USCIS along with required fees, medical
exams, and other forms.
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The adjustment of status process can be costly, and some asylees do not file for adjustment for many
years - if ever. Unlike refugees, an asylee is technically allowed to live in the United States legally in
asylee status indefinitely without adjusting his or her status. There is a risk to your client if he chooses
not to adjust status.
When an asylee adjusts to LPR status, she no longer needs to obtain a travel document from USCIS.
An LPR has the right to travel outside the United States for periods of up to six months at a time.
Traveling for more than six months can lead to the revocation of LPR status for abandonment
reasons.
Travel to the asylee's country of origin is highly discouraged because ICE may question the asylee at
the port of entry about changed circumstances in the country of origin and later use the information
against the asylee in removal proceedings. Travel to the country of origin is best done once an LPR
becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen.
It is important to remind clients that they can lose their asylee or lawful permanent resident status in
the United States if they engage in criminal activity.
Can my client apply for U.S. citizenship?

Yes. A lawful permanent resident is eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship five years after obtaining
lawful permanent resident status. For asylees, upon the grant of LPR status, USCIS generally
backdates the original date by one year, so that the applicant only has to wait four more years before
applying for citizenship.
Practice Pointer:
All of the requirements for eligibility for U.S. citizenship pertain to asylees. An asylee should consult
competent legal counsel for assistance in filing a citizenship application.
Can my client's asylum status ever be terminated?

Yes. Under certain conditions USCIS can terminate a person's asylum status. This is why you should
in most cases encourage your client to adjust to permanent legal resident status as soon as your
client is eligible for adjustment.
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There are conditions under which asylee status may be terminated,160 including:
A fundamental change in circumstances such that the asylee no longer meets the eligibility
requirements for asylum
The asylee becomes subject to one of the mandatory bars to asylum
The asylee has voluntarily availed herself of the protection of her country by returning there with
permanent resident status, or the possibility of similar status
The asylee has acquired a new nationality and enjoys the protection of her new country.
In practical terms, two of the most common ways in which an asylee's status could be terminated if a
person commits a crime or returns to her home country from which she claimed asylum.
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Citations
1U.S. asylum law is codified at United States Code (USC), Title 8, Chapter 12, Section 1158 and
Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The principle of nonrefoulement is codified
in U.S. law under the name "Withholding of Removal" and can be found at 8 USC § 1231(b)(3), INA §
241(b)(3).
2On July 25, 1951, the United Nations adopted the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,
which formalized the international principles of (1) asylum (whereby a country could provide legal
status to a person with a well-founded fear of persecution on account of a protected ground) and (2)
nonrefoulement (whereby a country is under an obligation not to return a person to a country where
his life or freedom would be threatened). In 1967, the UN adopted the Protocol relating to the Status
of Refugees, which expanded asylum and nonrefoulement protection (the U.S. acceded to the
Protocol in 1968).
3Sec. 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002; 6 U.S.C. § 279(g)(2).
4INS Office of International Affairs Memo: Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims, Dec. 10, 1998.
5Asylum seekers apply for asylum if they are physically located in the United States. Individuals who
are outside of the U.S. apply for status as refugees under the U.S. Refugee Program (USRP). If
approved, refugees are then resettled in the United States. Both asylum seekers and refugees must
prove that they meet the definition of a "refugee" under the INA 101(a)(42)(A).
6INA § 101(a)(42)(A); 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(42)A).
7 INA § 208(b)(1)(A); 8 U.S.C. § 1208(b)(1)(A).
8INA § 208(b)(1)(B); 8 U.S.C. § 1108(b)(1)(B); 8 CFR § 208.13(a) .
9INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca, 480 U.S. 421, 438-39 (1987).
10See USCIS Asylum Division, AOBTC Lesson Plan: Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims -
March 21, 2009, found at:
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Humanitarian/Refugees%20&%20Asylum/Asylum/AOBTC%20Lesson29_Guide_
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11UNHCR Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status ("U.N. Handbook"),
para. 219 (the Handbook is intended to provide guidance to government officials charged with the
adjudication of refugee claims), see also Matter of S-M-J-, 21 I&N Dec. 722, at 739 (BIA
1997)(Rosenberg, L., concurring).
12Ibid, para. 213.
13Matter of A-K-, 24 I&N Dec. 275 (BIA 2007)(holding that there is no statutory basis for a grant of
derivative asylum status to a parent based on the grant of asylum to his or her child).
148 CFR 208.13(b)(which states, "[t]he applicant may qualify as a refugee either because he or she
has suffered past persecution or because he or she has a well-founded fear of future persecution.");
see also Matter of Chen, 20 I.&N. Dec.16 (BIA 1989); Shehu v. Gonzales, 443 F.3d 435, 440 (5th Cir.
2006).
15Matter of Kasinga, Int. Dec. 3278 (BIA 1996); see also Matter of Mogharrabi, 19 I.&N. Dec. at 446.
16Desir v. Ilchert, 840 F.2d 723, 727 (9th Cir 1998).
17Singh v. INS, 134 F.3d 962, 967 (9th Cir. 1998); Bhatt v. Reno, 172 F.3d 978, 981 (7th Cir. 1999).
18Ciorba v. Ashcroft, 323 F.3d 539, 545 (7th Cir. 2003). 19Matter of Sanchez and Escobar, 19 I&N
Dec. 276, 284 (BIA 1985).
20Eduard v. Ashcroft, 379 F.3d 182, 190-1 (5th Cir. 2004).
21See INS Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims (although note that an asylum officer or
immigration judge is not bound by these Guidelines); see also UNHCR Handbook, para. 52 (stating
that "due to variations in the psychological make-up of individuals and in the circumstances of each
case, interpretations of what amounts to persecution are bound to vary.")
22U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). G.A. Res. 44/25, U.N. G.A.O.R., Nov. 20, 1989,
found at: The United States has signed but not ratified the CRC.
238 CFR § 208.13(b)(1); Matter of Chen, 20 I&N Dec.16 (BIA 1989).
24Even if the government is able to demonstrate changed country conditions, an applicant can still
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prevail by demonstrating that there are "compelling reasons" for being unwilling or unable to return to
his or her country or that he or she would suffer "serious harm" upon return. 8 CFR § 208.13(b)(1)(iii).
258 CFR § 208.13(b)(1)(i).
268 CFR § 208.13(b)(3).
27Id; see also INS v. Ventura, 437 U.S. 12 (2002 (per curiam)(where the U.S. Supreme Court
reiterated that the applicant bears the burden of proving countrywide fear when the persecutor is not
the government stating, "an individual who can relocate safely within his home country ordinarily
cannot qualify for asylum").
288 CFR § 208.13(b)(1)(iii).
29INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca, 480 U.S. 421 (1987); see also Kratchmarov. Heston, 172 F. 3d 551, 553
(8th Cir. 1999).
30Matter of Mogharrabi, 19 I&N 439, 441 (BIA 1987).
31Id at 445.
32See also INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca, 480 U.S. 421 (1987).
33 Id.
34Matter of Mogharrabi, 19 I. & N. Dec. at 444.
35 8 CFR § 208.13(b)(2)(iii).
36 See Abay v. Ashcroft, 368 F.3d 634, 640 (6th Cir. 2004)(overturning the IJ finding that a 9-year-
old applicant expressed only a "general ambiguous fear," noting that young children may be
incapable of articulating fear to the same degree as adults.)
37 AOBTC Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims, (March 21, 2009), pg. 40.
38 UNHCR Handbook, para. 215.
39
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Id at 216. But see See Cruz-Diaz v. INS, 86 F.3d 330, 331 (4th Cir. 1996)(per curiam)(it is possible for
a child to express a subjective fear of persecution, without that fear being objectively reasonable).
40 Ananeh-Firempong v. INS, 766 F.2d 621, 626 (1st Cir. 1985); see also UNHCR Handbook, para.
43; Matter of A-E-M-, 21 I&N Dec. 1157 (BIA 1998).
41 AOBTC Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims, (March 21, 2009), pg. 42; see also See 8 CFR
sect; 208.13(b)(2); UNHCR Handbook, para. 217.
42Osorio v. INS, 18 F.3d 1017 (2nd Cir. 1994).
43Div. B. of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense
44The BIA has held that the standard in mixed motive cases has not been radically altered by the
Real ID Act of 2005's amendments. Matter of J-B-N- & S-M-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 208, 214 (BIA 2007). Pre-
REAL ID Act case law requiring the applicant to present direct or circumstantial evidence of a motive
that is protected under the Act still stands. Id. The protected ground cannot play a minor role in the
past mistreatment or future mistreatment: it cannot be incidental, tangential, superficial, or
subordinate to another reason for harm; it must be a - although not necessarily the - central reason.
Id.
45INA § 208(b)(1)(B)(i); Matter of J-B-N- & S-M-, 24 I&N Dec. 208 (BIA 2007); Matter of S-P-, 21 I&N
Dec. 486 (BIA 1996)
46See Matter of S-M-J-, 21 I&N Dec. 722 (BIA 1997); Matter of Dass, 20 I&N Dec. 120 (BIA 1989).
47UNHCR Handbook at ¶ 68.
48Ibid at ¶ 72.
49Matter of S-A-, 11 I & N. Dec 1328 (BIA 2000). In this decision, the BIA overturned the denial of an
asylum claim of a 20-year-old Moroccan woman who had been seriously beaten on several occasions
by her father. She was a member of the Muslim faith, as was her father. She testified that over
several years she had been subjected to severe physical mistreatment, isolation and deprivation of
freedom by her father. She stated that she would be subjected to future persecution at the hands of
her father because of the differences in their religious views, especially related to the place and
treatment of women in Islam. The BIA found that she had suffered past persecution and had a well-
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founded fear of future persecution at the hands of her father on account of religion. Her religious
beliefs differed from those of her father concerning the proper role of women in Moroccan society.
52Matter of Acosta, 19 I & N Dec. 211 (BIA 1985); see also Matter of C-A-, 23 I&N Dec. 951 (BIA
2006).
53Matter of A-M-E- & J-G-U-, 24 I. & N. Dec. 69, 75 (BIA 2007).
54Matter of E-A-G, 24 I. & N. Dec. 591 (2008) and Matter of S-E-G, 24 I. & N. Dec. 579 (2008). In S-E-
G, the BIA held that the social group of young men resisting gang recruitment is insufficiently socially
visible. The BIA stated that social visibility requires that "the shared characteristic of the group should
generally be recognizable by others in the community." The BIA reasoned that there is little evidence
that "Salvadoran youth who are recruited by gangs but refuse to join (or their family members) would
be 'perceived as a group' by society, or that these individuals suffer from a higher incidence of crime
than the rest of the population."
55However, in an amicus curiae brief to the BIA, UNHCR argues that the (interpretive but nonbinding)
2002 UNHCR Guidelines on Membership of a Particular Social Group do not require that the
protected characteristic of the group be socially perceivable (i.e., visible). Rather, the Guidelines
adopt two alternative approaches: either (1) that the group shares a common protected characteristic;
or (2) that society views/perceives the group as sharing a common protected characteristic. A copy of
the brief is available at http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/4b03eb182.pdf. For more on how to argue
for a group's social visibility, refer to the May 2007 memo prepared by the Pennsylvania Law School
Law Clinic, discussing the BIA's analysis in Matter of A-M-E and J-G-U (BIA 2007). The memo is
available at:
http://www.uscrirefugees.org/2010Website/5_Resources/5_4_For_Lawyers/5_4_1%20Asylum%20Research/5
56INS v. Elias Zacarias, 502 U.S. at 478.
57Hernandez-Ortiz v. INS, 777 F.2d 509 (9th Cir. 1985); Campos-Guardado v. INS, 809 F.2d 285 (5th
Cir. 1987); UNHCR Handbook, ¶ 80-83.
58Civil v. INS, 140 F.3d 52 (1st Cir. 1998)(while affirming the underlying denial of asylum, the First
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Circuit criticized the immigration judge's presumption that youth "are unlikely targets of political
violence in Haiti."); see also Salaam v. INS, 229 F.3d 1234 (9th Cir. 2000) (per curiam)(where the
Ninth Circuit overturned a BIA ruling where the BIA held it was implausible that the petitioner had
been vice president of a branch of an opposition movement at the age of eighteen.) 59Matter of S-P-,
21 I&N Dec. 486 (BIA 1996); see also Garcia-Martinez v. Ashcroft, 371 F.3d 1066,1076 (9th Cir.
2004)(evidence that every family in a Guatemalan village lost a male member to the guerrillas and
that the military raped a woman every eight to fifteen days, based on the mistaken belief that the
villagers had voluntarily joined the guerrillas, compelled a finding that the applicant's rape by soldiers
was on account of a political opinion imputed to her).
6024 I&N Dec. 591 (BIA 2008).
6124 I&N Dec. 579 (BIA 2008).
6219 I&N Dec. 211 (BIA 1985).
63Urbina-Mejia v. Holder, 597 F.3d 360 (6th Cir. 2010); see also Benitez Ramos v. Holder, 589 F.3d
426 (7th Cir. 2009)(a former member of a particular gang is a member of a social group).
64See Matter of R-A-.Int. Dec. 3403 (BIA 1999).
65See http://cgrs.uchastings.edu/campaigns/alvarado.php.
66See http://cgrs.uchastings.edu/documents/legal/proposed_regs_12-00.pdf
67See Julia Preston, "U.S. Opens Path to Asylum for Victims of Sexual Abuse," The New York Times
(July 16, 2009).
68See http://cgrs.uchastings.edu/campaigns/Matter%20of%20LR.php.
69See Abankwah v. INS, 185 F.3d 18, 23 (2d Cir. 1999). For a comprehensive description of female
genital mutilation, see Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation, an interagency statement, February
2008, available at http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/47c6aa6e2.html; see also World Health
Organization, Female Genital Mutilation, Trends, available at http://www.who.int/reproductive-
health/fgm/trends.htm. FGM is recognized in U.S.criminal statutes, at 18 U.S.C. § 116. Additionally,
Congressional Resolution, H. RES. 32 (10/9/2007) unanimously condemns FGM as a "barbaric
practice."
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70Matter of Kasinga, 21 I&N Dec. 357 (BIA 1996); Abede v. Gonzales, 432 F.3d 1037, 1041-43 (9th
Cir. 2005).
71Kasinga at 365; Abay v. Ashcroft, 368 F.3d 634, 638 (6th Cir. 2004).
72Kasinga at 366-367.
73Nwaokolo v. INS, 314 F.3d 303, 307-311 (7th Cir. 2002) (Stay granted on BIA denial of motion to
reopen under CAT where USC daughter might suffer female genital mutilation).
74Kasinga at 365; Niang v. Gonzales, 422 F.3d 1187, 1200 (10th Cir. 2005) (holding that for purposes
of FGM, a social group can be defined by both gender and tribal membership); In re Acosta, 19 I. & N.
Dec. 211, 233 (BIA 1985); Mohammed v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 785, 796-98 (9th Cir. 2005) (In cases
involving FGM, membership in a particular social group may be defined by clan or as all Somali
females given the widespread practice.)
75See Matter of A-T-, 24 I&N Dec. 617 (A.G. 2008).
76For more guidance on FGM as an asylum claim, see UNHCR, Guidance Note on Refugee Claims
relating to Female Genital Mutilation, May 2009, available at:
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4a0c28492.html.
77Escobar v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 363 (3rd Cir. 2005).
78See In re Brus Wilson Fuentes Ortega (BIA Nov. 6, 2001)(considering social group of "abandoned
street children in Nicaragua"); In re Juan Carlos Martinez-Mejia (BIA Jan. 20, 1999)(considering social
group of "minors without resources who have been abused by a custodial parent/guardian").
79For copies of unpublished BIA and immigration judge decisions on street children, visit
http://uscri.refugees.org/site/PageNavigator/Resource%20Library/Asylum_Research_street_children.
In addition, view the following law review article for background information on street children and a
recent review of the available jurisprudence: Wexler, Laura P., Street Children and U.S. Immigration
Law: What Should Be Done? 41 Cornell Int'l L.J. 545 (2008).
80INA § 208(b)(2)(A)(vi); 8 CFR § 208.13(c)(2)(B).
818 CFR §& 208.15.
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821See Matter of Ng, 12 I&N Dec 411 (BIA 1967) (holding that a minor was firmly resettled in Hong
Kong because he was part of a family that resettled in Hong Kong).
83INA § 208(a)(2)(A).
84INA § 208(a)(2)(E); TVPRA, P.L. 110-457, § 235(d)(7)(A).
85See INA § 208(a)(2)(E); TVPRA, P.L. 110-457, § 235(d)(7)(A).
86AOBTC Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims, (March 21, 2009), 45.
87INA § 208(a)(2)(C) and (D).
88INA § 208(b)(2)(A)(i).
89Negusie v. Holder, Attorney General, No. 07 - 499, U.S. (March 3, 2009).
90Matter of Ramirez-Rivero, 18 I&N Dec. 135 (BIA 1981).
91INA § 208(b)(2)(A)(iii).
92Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008 (CSAA), P.L. 110- 340 (Oct. 3, 2008), which creates a
ground of inadmissibility for engaging in the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
93INA § 208(b)(2)(A)(iv).
94INA § 208(b)(2)(A)(v).
95INA § 208(b)(1).
96Matter of Pula, 19 I. & N. Dec. 467, 474 (BIA 1987).
978 CFR § 209.2(a) provides a comprehensive list of the inadmissibility grounds that are
automatically waived for asylees, which include public charge and the possession of a valid visa,
entry document, or travel document. 8 CFR § 209.2(b) provides the grounds for when an asylee is
eligible to apply for an inadmissibility waiver, which include humanitarian purposes, to assure family
unity, or because it is otherwise in the public interest to waive the inadmissibility ground.
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988 CFR § 209.2(a).
99INA § 241(b)(3).
1008 CFR § 208.16(b).
101INS v. Stevic, 467 U.S. 407, 430 (1984).
102INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca, 480 U.S. at 421.
1038 CFR § 208.16(d).
104INA § 208(b)(2)(A)(i).
105Negusie v. Holder, Attorney General, No. 07 - 499, U.S. (March 3, 2009).
106INA § 208(b)(2)(A)(ii).
107INA § 208(b)(2)(B)(i). The definition of "aggravated felony" may be found at INA § 101(a)(43).
108Matter of Ramirez-Rivero, 18 I&N Dec. 135 (BIA 1981).
109INA § 208(b)(2)(A)(iii).
110Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008 (CSAA), P.L. 110- 340 (Oct. 3, 2008), which creates a
ground of inadmissibility for engaging in the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
111INA § 208(b)(2)(A)(iv).
112Matter of I-S- & C-S-, 24 I&N 432 (BIA 2008).
113 8 CFR sect; 208.16(f).
114United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, G.A. Res. 39/46, annex, 39 UN GAOR Supp. (No. 51) at 197, UN Doc. A/39/51 (1984).
1158 CFR § 208.16(c)(4).
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1168 CFR § 208.16(c)(2); see also Matter of G-A-, 23 I&N Dec. 366 (BIA 2002)
1178 CFR § 208.16(c)(3).
118CFR § 208.18(c).
1198 CFR § 208.18(a)(1).
120Matter of J-E-, 23, I&N Dec. 291 (BIA 2002).
1218 CFR § 208.18(a)(2).
1228 CFR § 208.18(a)(5).
1238 CFR § 208.18(a).
1248 CFR § 208.18(a)(6).
1258 CFR § 208.18(a)(7).
1268 CFR § 208.18(a)(3).
1278 CFR § 208.17(a) and (b).
1288 CFR § 208.17(b)(2).
1298 CFR § 208.17(b)(1).
1308 CFR § 208.17(b)(1).
1318 CFR § 208.17(d)(1).
1328 CFR § 208.17(d)(3).
1338 CFR § 208.17(e).
1348 CFR § 208.17(f).
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135Section 235(d)(7) of the TVPRA amends section 208(b)(3) of the INA to state that: "[a]n asylum
officer . . . shall have initial jurisdiction over any asylum application filed by an unaccompanied alien
child . . . regardless of whether filed in accordance with this section or section 235(b)."
136Langlois, Joseph E. USCIS Asylum Division. Implementation of Statutory Change Providing

USCIS with Initial Jurisdiction over
137Asylum Applications Filed by Unaccompanied Alien Children, Memorandum to Asylum Office

Directors, et al. HQRAIO 120/12a. (March 25, 2009).
Id at pg. 3.
138INA § 208(a)(1); 8 C.F.R. § 103.2(a)(2).
139Section excerpted from the AOBTC Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims, March 21, 2009, pg.
18.
140See Bo Cooper, INS General Counsel Elian Gonzalez, Memorandum. (Jan. 3, 2000); see also
See Gonzalez v. Reno, 212 F.3d 1338 (11th Cir. 2000)(where a six-year-old Cuban boy applied for
asylum against the wishes of his father in Cuba and INS determined that he did not have the capacity
to seek asylum on his own behalf, where it was found that Elian was not at risk of persecution or
torture, that Elian's father had Elian's best interests in mind, and that the father did not have conflicts
of interest that would prevent him from pursuing the child's best interests. The Eleventh Circuit upheld
the INS policy, noting that line drawing on the basis of age is an adequate approach to determining
who may individually file for asylum.)
1418 CFR § 208.6.
142"Report on Asylum Seekers in Expedited Removal", U.S. Commission on International Religious

Freedom, Vol. 1, Findings and Recommendations, (Feb. 2005) at 57. Available at
http://www.uscirf.gov/images/stories/pdf/asylum_seekers/Volume_I.pdf
143INA § 208(b)(1)(B)(ii).
144See Germain, AILA's Asylum Primer (5th Ed.), pp. 385-389 (American Immigration Lawyer's
Association 2007).
145ICP Rule 3.3(e)(iv).
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146ICP Manual § 3.3(a).
147Joseph E. Langlois, Chief, USCIS Asylum Division, Memorandum, Implementation of Statutory

Change Providing USCIS with Initial Jurisdiction over Asylum Applications Filed by Unaccompanied
Alien Children, March 25, 2009. Available at
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Humanitarian/Refugees%20&%20Asylum/Asylum/Minor%20Children%20Applyin
provision-tvpra-alien-children2.pdf.
148INS Office of International Affairs Memo: Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims - December 10,
1998, found at:
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws%20and%20Regulations/Memoranda/Ancient%20History/ChildrensGuidelin
149See UNHCR Handbook, para. 219.
150See S-M-J-, 21 I&N Dec. 722, at 739 (BIA 1997).
151Langlois, Joseph E. USCUS Asylum Division. Implementation of Statutory Change Providing

USCIS with Initial Jurisdiction over Asylum Applications Filed by Unaccompanied Alien Children,
Memorandum to Asylum Office Directors, et al. HQRAIO 120/12a. (March 25, 2009), page 6.
152See Langlois, Joseph E., USCIS Asylum Division. Issuance of Revised Quality Assurance Referral
Sheet and Instructions on Submission of Certain Claims for Quality Assurance Review,
Memorandum. Feb. 9, 2007).
153Id.
154See EOIR Practice Manual Appendix F (Sample Cover Page).
155 For further information on applying for a social security card visit: http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-
5.html. Applications can also be obtained by calling: 1-800-772-1213, or visiting a local Social
Security Administration office.
156For online registration and further information, go to: http://www.sss.gov/.
157To learn more about the services available to asylees, go to ORR's website at
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/about/divisions.htm.
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158Visit the IRC at: http://www.theirc.org/where/northamerica.html
159For example, see "Overview of Immigration Eligibility for Federal Programs" October 2008, revised
October 2011, found at: http://www.nilc.org/overview-immeligfedprograms.html
160See 8 CFR 1208.24(a)-(f).
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Asylum and Related Relief

Chapter 5: Asylum and Related Relief

How can unaccompanied children qualify for asylum?

What are the particular considerations for children seeking

What are the eligibility requirements for asylum?

The applicant must be present in the United States.5

Who has the initial burden of establishing asylum eligibility?

Child Practice Pointer:

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Children cannot include their parents as derivatives on their asylum application.13

How does an applicant prove persecution?

What does it mean to suffer from past persecution?

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Relegation to substandard living conditions.

Denial of a passport or travel documents.

Interference in the child's private life, invasion of privacy.

Impeding or barring access to school or institutions of higher learning.

Is the government the only agent who can inflict persecution?

Child Practice Pointer:

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Is proving a child suffered past persecution enough to be

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Child Practice Pointer:

If my client has not suffered past persecution, is she still

What are the requirements for establishing a well-founded fear

3. The persecutor has the capacity to punish the respondent.

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4. The persecutor has the inclination to punish the respondent.31

How does the child establish a well-founded fear?

Child Practice Pointer:

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What else is needed to establish persecution?

What if my client is also being persecuted for a reason that is

How do I prove that persecution is on account of one of the

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The five enumerated grounds for asylum are:

2. Religion. Religious persecution includes the "prohibition of membership in a particular religious

3. Nationality. Nationality includes citizenship, as well as "membership in an ethnic or linguistic

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What are some legal arguments for children seeking asylum?

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Female genital mutilation

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What are the legal bars to being granted asylum?

Bars to accessing the asylum adjudication process:

An applicant is not firmly resettled if the applicant establishes that:

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Child Practice Pointer:

Safe third country

Child Practice Pointer:

One-year filing deadline

Previous asylum application

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Prior actions barring a grant of asylum

Serious nonpolitical crime

Terrorism and threat to national security