Still Yearning to Breathe Free: Refugee and Asylum Policy at a Crossroads and How You Can Help | 1 Hour CLE

June 20 is World Refugee Day, a celebration and commemoration recognizing and honoring the courage and resilience of people who have been forced to flee their home countries to escape war and persecution. The United States has become home to more than a million refugees from Southeast Asia who fled in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and conflicts in Cambodia and Laos. More recently, refugees and asylees from Myanmar and Afghanistan have continued to seek protection in the United States.

At a time when the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been suspended and affirmative asylum processing has slowed dramatically, this CLE will provide an overview of the current legal and policy landscape affecting refugees and asylum seekers. Participants will learn about the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, how individuals fleeing conflict and persecution may meet the legal definition of a refugee, and the similarities and distinctions between refugee and asylum protections. The program will also examine how recent Executive Orders have impacted humanitarian pathways and access to protection.

Importantly, non-immigration attorneys will learn practical ways to support refugees and asylees through pro bono legal assistance short of full representation. Topics may include Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, adjustment of status applications, employment authorization document (EAD) filings, country conditions research, and other critical forms of legal support.

Registration

Register here by June 30.

Learning Objectives

• Stay current on the rapidly evolving legal and policy landscape affecting refugee and asylee populations in the United States.

• Understand the legal definitions of, and distinctions between, refugees and asylees.

• Learn what types of legal assistance are needed and how attorneys can provide meaningful support through discrete pro bono opportunities.

• Gain historical knowledge about the significant role refugees have played within Asian American communities and the continued importance of refugee protection.

Panelists: