Forced Migration: the Law of Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Internally Displaced People

This course examines the legal terrain that has developed in response to the problem of forced migration, with an emphasis on U.S. law and policy. Most of the course will focus on the law of asylum, a form of immigration relief available to those who have been persecuted in the past or fear future persecution on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, as it has developed in the United States. The course will occasionally compare the U.S. approach to asylum and refugee law with the approach taken in other countries. A portion of the course will be devoted to other types of humanitarian relief, such as relief under the Convention Against Torture and Temporary Protected Status. In addition to studying doctrine and policy, students will engage in experiential learning, for example by engaging in interviewing or oral argument exercises, and will observe real asylum hearings at the local immigration court.

Grading and Method of Evaluation:
Letter grade. Grades will be based on class participation,final exam.