Read Time: 4 min 22 sec

BREWING QUESTIONS

WHAT YOU’RE ASKING

Who are Asylum Seekers?

Pop quiz: Which U.S. landmark says, “Give me your huddled masses yearning to be free?”

Last year, over 200,000 people received protection as U.S. refugees or asylum seekers (becoming asylees), fleeing persecution in their home country due to their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, and/or political opinion.

Are refugees and asylum seekers different?
In the U.S. immigration process, it all comes down to where you are when you apply for sanctuary. Immigrants who are already in the U.S. (or at its border) can request to stay by seeking asylum. Refugees are outside the U.S. requesting relocation.

The president sets yearly admission ceilings for refugees. There is no cap for asylees, and last year, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) received nearly 1.8 million new cases.

So, how do you get asylum?
Two main ways:

• The affirmative process (proactively applying within one year of arriving in the U.S.)

• The defensive process (defense at the border or in immigration court against removal from the U.S.)

The asylum process can take 4-7 years due to immigration court backlogs.

What happens while you wait?
While waiting, applicants can stay in the U.S. and are eligible to work after ~6 months. They aren’t eligible for most federal benefits and are generally advised not to travel internationally.

What happens if asylum is granted?
Over the last 20 years, 40-50% of applications have been approved (see chart). Once asylum is granted, asylees are eligible for a green card after one year and for citizenship after five.

What happens if asylum’s not approved?
Not everyone is eligible. A request may be denied for a number of reasons (read the list), including if the applicant has been convicted of a serious crime, has already resettled in another country, or was fleeing general crime or poverty (not persecution). 

Denied cases can be appealed; however, many denials result in final removal orders for the applicant. 

Pop Quiz answer: The Statue of Liberty. As you can imagine, this topic has a LOT of details we had to leave out of this article. Watch or listen to today’s episode of the TPO Explains podcast to hear us dig a little deeper!

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ABOVE ALL LOVE
While you probably play a small role in affecting U.S. immigration policy, you play a significant role in Christ’s mission to demonstrate his love to the world. Seek justice and remember compassion, knowing what it’s like to live as a sojourner in a land that’s not your home.

“Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.” 
1 Peter 2:11-12 (CSB) (read full passage)

FROM OUR PARTNERS 🤠

It’s Comeback Time

Good news for the Church (yes, really). 

New research from Barna shows something surprising (and really cool): Gen Z and Millennials are leading a resurgence in church attendance. Even more unexpected? Young men are driving the shift, reversing decades of women outnumbering men in the pews.

And it’s not just showing up on Sundays. Younger generations are fueling a Bible-reading comeback, too.

The research comes from the State of the Church Initiative and Gloo—a tech platform that helps pastors and ministries access research, tools, and values-aligned AI to better serve their communities. 

Want more good news? Check out their latest findings here!

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WHAT YOU’LL ENJOY

Figuring out what today’s item costs at Costco (in six guesses or less)

An Extra Whipped Cream on Top… mad handwriting skillz…

A smooooth cup of joe. Created by TPO Readers Joey S. and Nathan T., Tehillah Coffee is a micro-roaster crafting single-origin coffee that’s as rich in flavor as it is purpose: $1 from every bag helps share God’s Word with Bibleless people. Taste & See the Tehillah difference!*

*This is a free promo for a TPO-reader-owned small biz. Have your own small business you want us to know about? Fill out this form!

WHAT YOU’VE BEAN CLICKING…

Top News Article: A look at College Football’s playoff schedule (starts this Friday).

Top Christian Perspective: A reminder from an ICE story last week and today’s explainer on asylum that, above all, Christians are called to love others. (Download this as a wallpaper here!)

Top Whipped Cream: This 3D-printed gadget that still has us confused… 

WHAT WE’RE RECOMMENDING

How We’re Getting More out of Our Quiet Times
With the Life Bible app*

Most Bible apps cover the basics—translations, plans, and a place to jot notes. They’re helpful… but what if your Bible app could do more to deepen your time with God?

The Life Bible App goes beyond the basics: 

• 40+ Bible versions & high-quality audio

• 100+ highlight colors, plus note-taking and translation comparison

• Study Bibles, commentaries, and Bible Project videos

• 550+ Touchpoint topics to help you answer life’s biggest questions

• Shared prayer lists for praying with friends and family

And now through January 5, you can get a month of free in-app access to Life Application Study Bible notes. Start going deeper today!

WHAT WE’RE PRAYING

God our Refuge, protect and shelter those torn from their homes under threat of violence and persecution. By your Spirit, heal the wounds of the battered. Mobilizing your people, give refugees a safe place when trouble pushes them into a corner. 

As they search for refuge across the borders of foreign lands, may they encounter You and find shelter under the shadow of Your wings. Bring them into broad places of freedom and rest. Rescue and renew them. Amen.