Title: Is it legal to cross the U.S. border to seek asylum? | International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Headings: Is it legal to cross the U.S. border to seek asylum?
Is it legal to cross the U.S. border to seek asylum?
What is asylum?
Who is an asylum seeker?
Are asylum seekers refugees?
Is seeking asylum legal?
How do people seek asylum at the border?
Where do asylum seekers in the U.S. come from?
How did seeking asylum change under the Trump Administration?
What can President Joe Biden do to help asylum seekers?
How can I help asylum seekers?
How does the IRC help asylum seekers?
Tell U.S. leaders to keep asylum seekers safe

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Who is an asylum seeker? An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their home in search of safety and formally applied for legal protection in another country. Because he or she cannot obtain protection in their home country, they seek it elsewhere. Asylum seekers may be of any age, gender, socio-economic status or nationality—though the majority come from regions of the world that are suffering from conflict, disaster and weak rule of law. “Asylee” is the term used in the U.S. for people who have been granted asylum. According to U.S. immigration law, a person granted asylum is legally allowed to remain in the country without fear of deportation. They qualify to work, travel abroad and apply for their spouse or children under the age of 21 to join them. Are asylum seekers refugees? Yes
No
It depends
To be granted asylum, one must meet the definition of a refugee.