Political security is the ability of people to live in a country free from threat of internal or external conflict that could lead to violent or disastrous outcomes. Often, this requires government efforts to foster peace and international cooperation by working towards disarmament, fighting wars, preventing conflict, or otherwise addressing the root causes of political violence. It also involves efforts to ensure citizens have the right to a fair trial, freedom of speech, association and assembly, and participation in civic life and politics.
Asylum is a form of protection granted by a state to people who flee from their home countries because they fear persecution. The United States is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and therefore has obligations under international law to protect refugees. To qualify for asylum, individuals must establish that they meet the definition of a refugee under international law and are not subject to return to danger (non-refoulement).
The most common causes of persecution are war, religious or other discrimination, and human rights violations based on an individual’s race, nationality, membership in a particular social group, and/or political opinion. However, poverty and climate change are rapidly becoming significant factors that push people to leave their homes.
Some people seeking asylum arrive in the United States through a formal resettlement program or at a U.S. port of entry, and some enter the country despite being subject to an expedited removal order. In these cases, they undergo threshold screening interviews to see if they meet the definition of a refugee and have a well-founded fear of persecution. If they are granted asylum, they are entitled to stay in the country and work legally.
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