Breanna Cary is an attorney licensed in Oklahoma who graduated summa cum laude with her Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law. She serves on AILA’s Distance Learning Committee and as the Board of Publications’ vice-chair. She devotes her practice to representing resettled refugees in immigration matters and asylum-seekers. She has published multiple immigration-related articles and is a frequent speaker on immigration law before legal and community groups.
Articles By Breanna Cary
Asylum or Refugee Status: Who Is Eligible?
Asylum and refugee status are special legal protections available to people who have left their home country for their own safety and are afraid to return.
After Removal: Possibilities for Reentry to the U.S.
An immigrant who has been deported (removed) from the U.S. to another country is not supposed to attempt to reenter for five, ten, or 20 years, or even permanently.
Chances of Winning a Grant of Asylum in the U.S.
Your asylum application will be decided based on your unique facts, evidence, and witness statements. Moreover, asylum officers and Immigration Judges have a certain amount of discretion, and your chances might vary depending on who gets assigned to your case.
Bars to Receiving Asylum or Refugee Status
Asylum and refugee status are special legal protections under U.S. immigration law, available to people who have left their home country for their own safety and are afraid to return; but they are not available to people who are barred for any of various reasons, described here.
Timing of the Affirmative Asylum Application Process
If you have filed an affirmative application for asylum in the U.S. (meaning one where you are in the U.S. but not in removal or deportation proceedings), when you are scheduled for an interview will depend on when you filed your application.
When Can Asylum Applicants Get a Work Permit (EAD Card)?
Limited circumstances under which an applicant for asylum will be permitted to work in the United States.
How to Apply for a Work Permit While Awaiting an Asylum Decision
Here's everything you need to know about the EAD Application (I-765) for people applying for asylum in the United States.
What Is Deportation (Removal)?
Explanation of deportation (removal) and a step-by-step overview of what to expect in removal proceedings.
How to Write an Asylum Declaration to Go With Your I-589 Application
A step-by-step overview of writing an asylum declaration, or a written statement explaining why you are applying for asylum and meet the eligibility requirements.
Risks and Benefits of Affirmatively Applying for Asylum
If you haven’t yet been stopped by U.S. immigration officials or placed in removal (deportation) proceedings, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the best and worst of what could happen next.