FAQs from Our Conversation Guide
The right to seek asylum in another country was born out of the horrors of the Holocaust. Today, asylum protections remain critical, with more people forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict, violence, and human rights violations than at any other time since. Elected officials have claimed that restrictive asylum policies discourage migrants from coming to the border, but such policies create more disorder and expose people to serious harm.
U.S. law recognizes that a person running for their life cannot wait in danger to schedule an appointment to apply for asylum. Under the law, someone may seek asylum by arriving at the border and asking for protection. Simultaneously, many immigrants arrive with prior permission or through another legal pathway and still are burdened with our broken system.
People seeking a better life are not the ones bringing drugs to our country, and studies show that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens. Instead of fear-mongering for political gain, elected officials should work together to create a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system that meets the needs at the border and provides pathways to citizenship for longtime residents.
Immigrants are our friends, neighbors, co-workers, integral members of our communities, and the backbone of our economy, yet extremist politicians have repeatedly sought to scapegoat migrants to score political points. We cannot allow fear-mongering to shape policy. For decades, our country has been a safe haven for people seeking refuge and we must not abandon our nation’s values or moral commitments to protect people fleeing danger.
Roles of Offices
Share Your Rights
Share Your Rights
2024 Election Actions
![An ACLU staff member holding a clipboard and wearing an “ACLU” shirt.](/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/frontend/bundles/election2024/assets/images/volunteer.png)
Join Our Volunteer Team
![A collage of images representing the right to vote.](/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/frontend/bundles/election2024/assets/images/know-your-rights.png)
Know Your Rights at the Polls
![A masked voter on election day, between two voting booths.](/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/frontend/bundles/election2024/assets/images/make-a-plan.png)
Make a Plan to Vote
Act Now for Immigrants' Rights
![Shut Down the ICE Detention Machine](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2021/04/600x600_Wordpress-4.jpg)