Am I eligible for asylum if I am in the U.S. illegally?
If you are in the United States illegally, you may be eligible for asylum if you meet certain criteria set out in the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). To qualify, an individual must be in the United States and be found to be a “refugee” as defined by the INA. A refugee is someone who has suffered persecution or has a reasonable fear of future persecution based on one’s race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. In order to apply for asylum, you must complete a form called the Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal, and submit it to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) along with supporting documents. It is important to note that in order to be granted asylum, you must prove that your fear of persecution is both “well-founded” and “objectively reasonable”. It is also important to apply as soon as possible, as there is a one-year filing deadline that applies to most asylum applicants. If you are found ineligible for asylum, you may still have other options for securing legal status in the U.S. It is best to speak with an immigration attorney who can help you explore all of your available options. It is also important to remember that even if you are unable to secure legal status, you may still be able to access certain services and benefits, such as healthcare and education.
THELAW.TV ofrece respuestas en español a todas las preguntas sobre la ley de inmigración.El estatus de asilo en EEUU se otorga a aquellos que están en peligro de ser perseguidos en su país de origen debido a su raza, religión, nacionalidad, pertenencia a un determinado grupo social o por motivos políticos. Si usted está en los Estados Unidos ilegalmente, aún puede solicitar asilo. En el estado de Nueva York, la ley de inmigración requiere que los solicitantes de asilo sean admitidos a los Estados Unidos o estén presentes aquí con una visa válida. Esto significa que aquellos que ingresan al país ilegalmente no están limitados al derecho de solicitar asilo, aunque deben cumplir con los demás requisitos para ser elegibles para el asilo. Los solicitantes de asilo deben presentar una petición de asilo lo antes posible tras la entrada al país. Si una petición de asilo es presentada dentro de un año de ingresar a EEUU, es más probable que se otorgue asilo. Además, el solicitante deberá demostrar a las autoridades que su persecución es motivada en razón de su raza, religión, nacionalidad, la pertenencia a un grupo social o motivos políticos. Los solicitantes también deben presentar pruebas de que la persecución es real. Por lo tanto, sí, en principio, puede solicitar asilo aunque esté en los Estados Unidos ilegalmente. Sin embargo, es importante tener en cuenta que para ser elegible para asilo, debe cumplir con los requisitos básicos.
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