It Could Happen Here What's Happening in Immigration Court
May 29, 2025
Kirsten Zittlau, an immigration lawyer specializing in asylum cases, shares her insights into the turmoil of the U.S. asylum system. She discusses the drastic changes that hinder asylum seekers, such as new regulations and legal challenges. Through the story of Primrose, a Zimbabwean woman she represents, Kirsten highlights the urgent need for legal representation and the grim realities faced by those in immigration courts. The conversation underscores the ethical implications of current policies and the emotional toll on both migrants and legal advocates.
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Asylum System Closure Insight
- The U.S. asylum system at the southern border is effectively closed to new cases under broad executive authority.
- People are extremely limited to Convention Against Torture screenings and face deportation without chance to fight asylum in the U.S.
New Barriers to Asylum
- The asylum ban forces people to use a restrictive permit system or cross unlawfully, severely limiting access to asylum.
- Recent changes include a "material support" bar that excludes asylum seekers offering even coerced help to gangs.
Primrose's Struggle in Court
- Primrose, a Zimbabwean woman from the Darien Gap, is still fighting her asylum case after facing a hostile court environment.
- Judges have sent her misleading "self-deport" notices despite her active legal representation.