Displaced People Journey: Asylum Seekers

At the end of 2021,

89.3 MILLION PEOPLE

worldwide were forcibly displaced.

MILLION 4.6

OF THOSE WERE ASYLUM SEEKERS.

We invite you to reflectively follow the stages of an asylum seeker’s journey in coming to the United States.

https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html

CPC’s

Arrive Ministries Housing Fund: Arrive is a resettlement agency that works alongside local churches to welcome refugees and immigrants to Minnesota. The Housing Fund with Arrive covers security deposits, refurbishing homes, supplemental rent, moving truck rentals.

International Association for Refugees’ Jonathan House: IAFR helps people survive and recover from forced displacement. Jonathan House is a set of 2 permanent sites and 1 temporary site that offer safe, stable housing for asylum seekers in the Twin Cities. The Jonathan House gift will be used for monthly support for 13 residents and to create a permanent, family-oriented house.

As a way to understand the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers, we invite you to reflectively engage their respective journeys below. Consider how it may feel to be in their shoes, to face impossible decisions, to confront extreme vulnerability, and to hold on to hope for a better future.

Before you begin, the following definitions will be helpful:

Refugee

a person who has fled their own country because they are at risk of serious human rights violations and persecution there. “Refugee” is a legally designated and protected status.

Asylumseeker

a person who has left their country and is seeking protection from persecution and serious human rights violations in another country, but who hasn’t yet been legally recognized as a refugee and is waiting to receive a decision on their asylum claim.

InternallyDisplacedPerson(IDP)

a person who has fled human rights violations, violence, or persecution but flees within their own country.

ForciblyDisplacedPeople

an umbrella term that includes refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people.

2022 Christmas offering will go to support housing for displaced people living in the Twin Cities through two local mission partners:

Danger and Leaving Home

It is human nature to want to stay in our own parts of the world, but sometimes the danger becomes so intense that people are forced to flee. Human rights violations, religious, ethnic, or political persecution, torture, and armed conflict all contribute to people fleeing their homes to seek asylum. Many asylum seekers will scrounge up all the money they’ve saved to “hire” someone in the “people movement” business to help them flee. Many of these movers will exploit people; not all transport routes are safe.

What feelings would you have if danger forced you to flee your home? What would be your top priorities?

Watch “I Am Every Asylum Seeker” video.

On the Move

Aslyum seekers often face great dangers on their journeys. They are exposed to injury, further exploitation, and even bad weather. They usually lack sufficient food, shelter, and clean water along the way.

How would you feel if the journey to safety was so difficult? What might motivate you to keep going?

Arrival and Screening Interview

Finally, an asylum seeker will arrive to a new country that is safer and request asylum at the port of entry. However, they may be unaware if the new country will recognize their status as a refugee or asylee, which will impact their ability to work and find housing. They also may need to learn the language of the new country. Asylum seekers must undergo an initial screening interview at this stage.

How might you feel as you seek asylum in a new country with a different language?

Housing

Initially, asylum seekers may be designated as a “destitute asylum seeker” and housed in an initial detention facility or accomodation center. Some are detained indefinitely because they do not have a sponsor. Others are released to a person who has agreed to support them, but these people often do not have the means to offer sustained support for the length of time needed. Eventually, they may be connected to an organization like IAFR’s Jonathan House through referrals, word of mouth, or their own research, where they can stay longer term while their asylum case is being processed. A place like Jonathan House can help asylum seekers grow their capacities and language skills, find assistance, and build community. This is especially important because asylum seekers are not permitted to work or access government assistance.

How would you feel moving into a group home like Jonathan House while you wait for your case to be processed?

Moving Forward in Limbo

If housing is secured, asylum seekers can then work on accessing medical care and a cell phone, finding food pantries, navigating public transportation, building relationships with local human rights resources, connecting to a faith community or social worker, developing language skills, pursuing vocational training, and even volunteering. Goals for the future can tentatively take shape.

What might be your top priority after securing stable housing? What would your most pressing needs or concerns be?

Granted Status

If they’re fortunate, asylum seekers will be granted status as protected asylees within an average of 6 months to several years. If this is the case, they are authorized to work, apply for a Social Security card, request permission to travel overseas, and can petition to bring family members to the United States. Asylees may also be eligible for certain government programs, such as Medicaid or Refugee Medical Assistance. Currently, the majority of asylum claims are denied. The rate of denial varies widely depending of the judge hearing the case. In our local court, judges range from 35% to 85% denials. Some judges elsewhere deny 95% of cases. Depending on the ability to afford legal help, cases are more likely to be successful if a lawyer is involved.

How would you feel if you were granted asylum? What might the next goal or hurdle be?

Long Term Stability

After one year, asylees may apply for a green card; then after four years they can apply for citizenship. While so much has been accomplished at this point, the road to recovery is still long. Many hope to work on a driver’s license and access a vehicle while also advancing their language and vocational skills for better paying work. They also need community and mental health support in recovering from the numerous traumas they’ve encountered. Many also maintain meaningful connections in their home countries. Beginning again isn’t easy, but so many of our asylee neighbors demonstrate incredible resilience.

What would you do to stay resilient at this point in the journey?