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Asylum
Stories about the complex process of seeking asylum — and how that process is changing. Want to see for yourself? Make your way through the US asylum process with this interactive tool.
Conflict & Justice
A teen who escaped Syria waits for a future in the US
The World
November 26, 2013
19-year-old Fouad Faris fled his hometown of Aleppo, Syria, a year ago and moved in with his aunt and uncle in Shrewsbury, MA. He left behind bombs and tear gas, but also education, friends and family. For the past seven months, he's been waiting for asylum and a chance to restart his life.
Conflict & Justice
A gay Russian gets asylum and a new life in the US
The World
February 17, 2014
The Winter Olympics has put a spotlight on Russia's anti-LGBT laws and practices. One gay Russian decided he had seen enough when new laws were passed this summer, so he took the risky course of entering the US illegally to seek asylum.
Global Politics
A gay Russian teen has been outed as he seeks asylum in the US
The World
October 08, 2014
It's tough being gay in Russia. That's why an anonymous Russian exchange student sought asylum in the US on the basis of his sexual orientation. Though nobody was supposed to know about his application, an American official recently outed the teen in a piece for the New York Times.
Global Politics
Homeless migrants in Amsterdam are stuck in a cold limbo
The World
January 02, 2015
Some African migrants who are seeking asylum in the Netherlands are facing a crisis of their own. This week the Dutch government rejected a request from the United Nations to provide thousands of homeless migrants with basic food and shelter.
Conflict
This American's passport ended up in the hands of smugglers in Turkey
The World
May 22, 2015
Sam Neher was on vacation in Turkey when his passport was stolen. Months later, he found out it was being used by smugglers in Turkey as a potential way to get Syrian refugees to countries where they could seek asylum.
Conflict
Despite deaths and drugs, asylum in the US remains a dream for most Mexicans
The World
July 21, 2015
In recent years, fewer than 200 Mexicans have been granted asylum in the US annually — a tiny percentage of applications from the country overall.
Justice
For some women fleeing violence, safety means changing US law ‘stuck in the past’
The World
September 07, 2015
The US has taken some steps to protect foreign women facing harm based on their gender. But some say the US must do more.
Conflict
'They will reach your doorsteps and they will demand their rights as human beings'
The World
September 09, 2015
Updated
Waves of Syrian migrants coming to Europe are part of a much larger movement of people on the move. Economic migrants, refugees and asylum seekers have been flowing toward Europe in increasing numbers for years.
Conflict
Some Iraqi refugees who made it to Europe are choosing to return home
The World
April 21, 2016
“I was expecting a comfortable life and that they would provide us with help. But it was so difficult.”
Justice
A day in the life of immigration limbo
The World
October 18, 2016
Day after anxious day, a mother who escaped gang violence with her children in El Salvador waits in Boston to know whether she and her family can stay in the US legally or not.