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 / Modified may 18, 2018 4:45 p.m.

Immigration Attorney Explains Process for Receiving Asylum

What five categories are acceptable reasons for pursuing asylum.

For a deeper understanding of how the system currently processes asylum cases, Arizona 360 turned to immigration attorney Rachel Wilson.

As Wilson explained, a person may qualify for asylum if their fear of returning to their home country falls into one of five categories: persecution based on race, national origin, political opinion, religion or membership in a particular social group — a category Wilson described as "mushy."

"People who present themselves at the border are subject to mandatory detention," Wilson said. "And they can be detained for years now because there isn't any law that limits the indefinite detention they're subject to."

Arizona 360
Arizona 360 airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on PBS 6 and Saturdays at 8 p.m. on PBS 6 PLUS. See more from Arizona 360.
MORE: Arizona 360 Segments, Immigration, Justice System
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