Shortly after taking office, President Biden asked Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to set up a task force to reform the U.S. asylum system. One hundred days into President Biden’s first term, most attention is on asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. This focus overlooks the nuances of the asylum system—notably, the differences between affirmative and defensive asylum.
Shortly after taking office, President Biden asked Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to set up a task force to reform the U.S. asylum system. One hundred days into President Biden’s first term, most attention is on asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. This focus overlooks the nuances of the asylum system—notably, the differences between affirmative and defensive asylum.
Abdul, an asylee from Ghana, tells his story about coming to New York. After fleeing home because of persecution of his sexual identity, Abdul lived and worked in Ecuador, before asking for asylum at the U.S. southern border. Now in New York, he’s committed to helping other people going through the process.
