Immigration to North America: Asylum Seekers

Explores the history of asylees in North America, including the process by which a person receives asylum and examples of cases where people have found safe haven in North America.

Asylees are people who cannot return to their homeland because of a fear of persecution. Unlike other refugees, asylees are processed within the country where they find refuge. They are permitted to stay when that country determines that they have a legitimate and compelling reason for leaving their homeland. People seeking asylum in the United States or Canada comprise a diverse group. Some have escaped persecution in their homeland and have migrated illegally to North America via boat, plane, or on foot. Others have arrived legally on temporary visas and request asylum only after learning that their home country has become too dangerous for them to return. This book covers the history of the asylum process in North America, as well as the step-by-step process by which a person receives asylum. It also provides examples of cases in which people have found safe haven in the United States and Canada. Titles in this series contain color photos throughout, maps, graphs and illustrations, and back matter including: biographical information of famous people, a detailed index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspect