Asylum & Refugee Law

This course examines the international and U.S. refugee law regime, with a focus on asylum law in the United States. This course will look at the standards for asylum and the challenges asylum-seekers face when seeking protection in the United States. In addition to studying doctrine and policy, we will engage in experiential exercises in which you will step into the role of the various actors involved in asylum adjudications (e.g., the Immigration Judge or Asylum Officer, the asylum seeker's representative, and DHS counsel). Thus, the course will consider asylum and refugee law through a doctrinal lens as well as both a practitioner's and a policy perspective. Finally, the course will discuss alternative forms of protection, the shortfalls of the current asylum and refugee law regime, and explore reform proposals.