Shoshanna Malett

Attorney · American University Washington College of Law

Shoshanna Malett, Esq., is an attorney practicing immigration law in New York City. Her practice includes representing clients and reviewing cases for other attorneys to help determine eligibility for asylum.

Educating the public. In recent years, Ms. Malett has published numerous articles on immigration topics and has taught various CLE classes. She participates in many community outreach programs on topics such as naturalization, battered women, and special juvenile immigrant status as well as forums in which she provides general immigration information to the public. Ms. Malett has been interviewed and cited to in many scholarly works, including Human Rights First in their 2010 publication on the asylum one-year filing deadline.

Legal background. A 1990 graduate of CUNY School of Law, Ms. Malett obtained her LL.M. in International Human Rights law in 1994 from The Washington College of Law at American University and is admitted in New York. After seven years working for various law firms in New York and Washington DC, Ms. Malett joined the government as an asylum officer, working first for the Department of Justice and then for the Department of Homeland Security. While at the Asylum Office, Ms. Malett participated in the mentor program and trained other officers on topics such as the development of law in one-child cases and domestic violence and gender as asylum claims. Ms. Malett left the government in 2006 to start her own practice and to spend more time with her children.

Personal life. Ms. Malett lives in New York City with her husband and their two wonderful children. Ms. Malett is active in both her children's schools and was elected to the Student Leadership Team numerous times.

Articles By Shoshanna Malett

Why Were You Persecuted? Proving the "Nexus" or Motivation in an Asylum Claim
The harm an asylum applicant suffered must have been "on account of" one of five grounds, not random or merely personal.
Can I Apply for Asylum If a Family Immigration Petition Has Been Filed for Me?
Question I am a citizen of Guyana who walked across the border from Mexico into the United States. I have no papers. My brother is a U.S. citizen and he filed a petition for me, but it will be years before my “visa number” comes up. Can I file an asylum claim? Answer In terms of basic legal procedures,
Can I Apply for Asylum After Sneaking Off Ship Where I Was a Crew Member
So long as your entry into the U.S. was not in your official status as a crewmember, you should be able to apply for asylum.
Can I Apply for U.S. Asylum If I'm From India?
Despite being the world’s largest democracy with over 1.4 billion people, thousands of Indians regularly leave India to seek asylum.
When, How to Include Family Member Dependents on Your Asylum Application
If you want your spouse and children in the U.S. to receive approval of asylum along with you, they can be included in the I-589; but this could also result in the whole family facing deportation.
When Can Asylee Get Green Card for New, Undocumented Spouse?
If the marriage happens after you gain asylum status, you face a long and uncertain procedure to attempt to gain lawful immigration status for an undocumented spouse.
Your Asylum Interview Appointment: A Walk-Through
A step-by-step guide to what will happen at your asylum interview.
Claiming Asylum Based on Persecution on Account of Political Opinion
Wondering when it's appropriate to tell U.S. immigration authorities that you were persecuted based on your political opinion?
Can You Claim Asylum Based on Being a Persecuted Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender Person?
Understanding the legal basis for LGBTQ asylum in the U.S.