[Ads-l] Asylee

[Mark Mandel]

A new one for me,* meaning "asylum seeker, or one who has been granted
asylum". Seen in a general message to my synagogue's membership:

"...support the family in navigating all of the complex systems that
asylees are up against..."

* But clearly not to the lexicographic community or other interested
parties:
•Oxford says "a person who is seeking or has been granted political asylum"
(https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/asylee)
• Merriam-Webster's def is almost identical.
• USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Dept. of
Homeland Security; https://www.uscis.gov/aboutus): An alien in the United
States or at a port of entry who is found to be unable or unwilling to
return to his or her country of nationality, or to seek the protection of
that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.
Persecution or the fear thereof must be based on the alien’s race,
religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or
political opinion. For persons with no nationality, the country of
nationality is considered to be the country in which the alien last
habitually resided.
•  Dept. of Homeland Security also explains a distinction (
https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/refugees-asylees): A refugee is
a person outside his or her country of nationality who is unable or
unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality because of
persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race,
religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or
political opinion. An asylee is a person who meets the definition of
refugee and is already present in the United States or is seeking admission
at a port of entry. Refugees are required to apply for Lawful Permanent
Resident (“green card”) status one year after being admitted, and asylees
may apply for green card status one year after their grant of asylum.

Mark Mandel

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