Lawyers: US Places Hurdles In Front Of Asylum Seekers
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SEATTLE (CBSMiami/AP) — The U.S. government places hurdles in front of people who try to file asylum applications, according to lawyers representing four asylum seekers.
The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Thursday claims the Department of Homeland Security fails to notify asylum seekers about a one-year deadline to apply.
It also says bureaucratic obstacles, court backlogs and disputes between agencies often make it impossible for people to meet that one-year deadline.
Matt Adams with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project says these roadblocks violate the asylum seeker's constitutional rights and immigration laws.
The lawsuit asks the court to order Homeland Security to come up with a plan to fix the problems. They're also asking for class-action status.
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