The American Citizens' Guide to Seeking Asylum Abroad

[leveymg]

The American Citizens' Guide to Seeking Asylum Abroad
By JDzubow
http://blogs.ilw.com/entry.php?7519-The-American-Citizens-Guide-to-Seeking-Asylum-Abroad
09-17-2013 at 09:02 AM

This piece was originally published by http://www.wherevermag.com/ wherever magazine, an out of place journal of travel literature, travel culture, and travel politics. I will periodically be blogging for the new magazine, which seems like a very cool publication (probably too cool for the likes of me, but for now, I'm still in).


I wrote this piece because I am contacted pretty regularly by U.S. citizens who are seeking asylum abroad, or who are thinking about it. Some of these asylum seekers are not so legitimate in my estimation--criminals who hope to avoid the consequences of their crimes. Others represent sad situations that involve people who have been frustrated by their inability to receive help from the government. Victims of domestic abuse are one example in this category. Also, there are those who are engaged in political activity (or what they consider political activity) that could result in criminal penalties here. Edward Snowden falls into this category. So do certain cannabis activists and others in favor of drug legalization (people who consider drug use a political act).



Some people need to flee the U.S.; others just need to leave already.


OK, without further ado, the original piece is here (where you can also check out some interesting articles and photos), and a slightly shortened version is below:


Let’s say you’ve decided to flee the United State of America. You’re not some high-profile asylum seeker like Edward Snowden, who can count on help from a rival government (Russia). Instead, you’re just an ordinary asylum seeker, who will have to demonstrate that you qualify for protection under international law. How would you go about it?

<MORE>

(Not quite Latest Breaking News, but I thought I would share it while it's still fresh, anyway. Who hasn't had this thought, at some time?

FYI - Jason is a real immigration lawyer, and only half kidding.)

[truedelphi]

1. Bookmarking for later reading.

Thank you for posting it.

I find myself increasingly at odds with the "Mind Frame" so deliberately being created here in the USA.

The dumbing down of the educational system, the continual "Reality TV" shows wherein to be a "winner" you have to aggressively compete against others, the growing income equality, and after typing out all that, I see that haven't even begun to mention my frustrations with this political system.

Having lived in other regions of the world, I think I am ready to do that again.

[Warpy]

2. Interesting

if the Republicans get back in and start persecuting lefties (and this sort of thing tends to happen very quickly when committed fascists are in charge), I'll be on the first plane out and I won't care where to, only I'd hope they speak a European language I can at least understand.

I'd describe my alert level now as merely watchful. "RUN!" is a long way off.