Asylum Seekers

The issue of immigration has plagued the news media as of late. The laws that govern immigration are challenged and dissected. Issues such as illegal immigration, the DACA program and the issuance of asylum are scrutinized and defended daily. In my chosen article What the law says should happen to asylum seekers at the US border by Luke Barr, it discusses the process of individuals who come to the United States seeking asylum and the laws that determine the approval or denying of that status to an individual. The issue of immigration has become a powder keg as it classifies a minority in a light that is barely understood by individuals of the majority population.

America has long been viewed as a nation of immigrants and now finds itself at

Which at its very core is how the United States came to be. In unit one we discussed demographic characteristics of race how the population anticipates to shift and grow overtime. The conversation seems to be a revolving circle of protecting the border, balancing diversity and reforming the policies. The article does a great job of contrasting the history of the refugee and asylum policies enacted by law. “Under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 protocol, and adopted into U.S. law, the U.S. must recognize refugees that fear persecution and are not able to get help from their home country.” (Barr, Luke). Often times these are poor individuals from countries classified as third world that flee for fear of persecution from government, war, crime, and other oppressive behaviors. That do not have the resources to maintain a life without fear or hardship most times these individuals are poor desperate to start a new life and provide a stable foundation for their

“Anyone who declares they are seeking asylum at a U.S. port of entry is then moved to undergo a secondary interview, during which another customs official must confirm the credible fear claim.” (Barr, Luke), this process can take months or years It begs the question can individuals who don’t feel welcomed by the majority actually successfully assimilate to that society. But it also questions the dominance of the majority groups culture and their rejection of diversity and inclusion of others. We are at cross roads where common-sense conversations and transparency could help not only with domestic policies but foreign policies that are directly tied to how a population may be affected. Assimilation of course historically is not without its challenges, that of language and cultural barriers. However, acceptance can help the separation of a group or the rejection of a