The Evolving Refugee Definition: How Shifting Elements of Eligibility Affect the Nature and Focus of Expert Testimony in Asylum Proceedings

Chapter 3 in AFRICAN ASYLUM AT A CROSSROADS: ACTIVISM, EXPERT TESTIMONY, AND REFUGEE RIGHTS, OHIO UNIVERSITY PRESS (2015).

UC Hastings Research Paper No. 166

28 Pages Posted: 11 Mar 2016

Date Written: March 10, 2016

Abstract

This chapter focuses on jurisprudence in the United States and the manner in which the evolving requirements for establishing eligibility as a refugee have influenced the use of experts. In the 1980 Refugee Act, Congress adopted the international definition of a refugee as an individual with a "well founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion" (Immigration and Nationality Act [INA] 1980, sec. 1 101 (a)(42)(A)). This definition has its origins in the 19S1 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (art. IA(2)) and its 1967 Protocol (UN Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees 1967, art. 1 (2)), which came into existence in the wake of World War II and the international community's failure to respond to the plight of Jews and other persecuted groups fleeing the Holocaust.

Suggested Citation

Musalo, Karen, The Evolving Refugee Definition: How Shifting Elements of Eligibility Affect the Nature and Focus of Expert Testimony in Asylum Proceedings (March 10, 2016). Chapter 3 in AFRICAN ASYLUM AT A CROSSROADS: ACTIVISM, EXPERT TESTIMONY, AND REFUGEE RIGHTS, OHIO UNIVERSITY PRESS (2015)., UC Hastings Research Paper No. 166, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2746243

Karen Musalo (Contact Author)

UC Law, San Francisco ( email )

200 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
207
Abstract Views
1,451
Rank
266,316
PlumX Metrics