Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law (COIL) Practice Exam

What is considered a valid reason for seeking asylum in the U.S.?

1. Economic opportunity

2. Political persecution

3. Family reunification

4. Employment advancement

The correct answer is: Political persecution

Seeking asylum in the U.S. is primarily based on the individual’s fear of persecution due to specific factors. A valid reason for seeking asylum is political persecution, which involves facing harm or violence based on one’s political beliefs or affiliations. This persecution must be severe enough that the individual cannot safely return to their home country. Asylum is intended for individuals who have well-founded fears of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Political persecution encompasses these aspects where an individual may face torture, imprisonment, or death due to their political stance or dissent against a government. In contrast, economic opportunity, family reunification, and employment advancement do not qualify as valid grounds for asylum because they do not involve persecution or threats to life or freedom. Economic hardship might prompt individuals to seek immigration, but it does not fall under the protection that asylum offers. Similarly, family reunification and employment advancement pertain to other immigration pathways but do not encompass the critical element of persecution necessary for an asylum claim.