by Michele R. Pistone

About the author: Michele R. Pistone is an advocacy fellow at the Center for Applied Legal Studies at Georgetown University Law Center.

Human lives are being put in danger by the 1996 Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. The new law contradicts America’s tradition of offering a safe haven to people fleeing persecution by failing to accommodate the unique and often tragic circumstances that confront those seeking asylum.

Sensationalized Portrayal of Asylum Law

The most damaging portion of the 1996 law is the one-year filing deadline. Many genuine asylum seekers will not be able to meet the deadline because of the circumstances they face, including the trauma of torture, the threat of death, and fear for family members who remain in their home country.

The 1996 changes were based on...