Gothamist Quotes Akin Gump Pro Bono Partner Steven Schulman on Asylum Process
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For its article “For asylum seekers, Manhattan is only part of a harrowing journey,” New York Public Radio’s Gothamist quoted Akin Gump pro bono partner Steven Schulman. The article discusses what it calls the “humanitarian, political and bureaucratic labyrinth” facing those seeking to convince a federal immigration judge to grant them asylum.
Schulman, who, as part of his practice, has handled dozens of asylum and other immigration matters, said of the process, “An economic crisis is not grounds for asylum, nor is civil strife. He added, “The key to all these cases is the credibility of the individuals testifying.”
Regarding what Gothamist calls the “tremendously backlogged” asylum adjudication system, he said, “We have clients that wait four, five, six years for an asylum hearing.”
