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The Asylum and Refugee Rights Project seeks to
address the problem of asylum seekers in the Denver metropolitan
area and of refugees in other countries. The purpose of the Asylum
Project is to extend and enhance the delivery of legal services
to asylum seekers and refugees in the Denver metropolitan area
and abroad. Students at the University of Denver Law School and
Graduate School of International Studies undertake the representation
of Denver-area refugees who have fled political, religious, racial,
or ethnic persecution in their home countries and are seeking asylum
in the United States.
Yearly, on average 400 asylum seekers arrive in the Denver metropolitan
area. These are people who have fled persecution in their home
countries, and lack legal representation as they seek asylum in
the United States. Generally, asylum seekers lack assistance in
maneuvering through the complex legal process established for requesting
asylum from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Even though
asylum seekers are four to six times more likely to be granted
asylum when they are represented by counsel, currently, pro bono
(volunteer) lawyers are able to satisfy only a small portion of
the demand for this vital service.
To date, DU law and graduate students working under the supervision
of the Asylum Project director have provided free legal assistance
to some 40 asylum seekers from Algeria, Congo, the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritania, Sierra
Leone, Sudan, Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil, Colombia, Tibet, Iraq
and the Russian Federation. However, as of January 1, 2006, the
Asylum Project has temporarily suspended representation of additional
clients due to lack of funding.
The second purpose of the Asylum/Refugee Rights Project is to
address the legal problems of refugee populations. The current
refugee projects focus on developing strategies for Burmese refugees
in Thailand, North Korean refugees in China and Uighur (Chinese)
refugees in Kyrgyzstan to prevent unlawful repatriation to their
home countries where they would likely face further persecution.
The Asylum and Refugee Rights Project also represents indigent
clients in other immigration matters including petitions under
the Violence Against Women Act, applications for cancellation of
removal and adjustment of status applications and, on occasion,
criminal deportation matters.
The Asylum Project is administered by Ellie Azoff.
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