Refugees–especially Muslim refugees–are big news these days. Are they a threat? Should we ban them from our country? Can they ever integrate into American society?
Despite our collective amnesia on this point, the fact is, we’ve been asking these same questions about refugees for at least a hundred years. And I suspect that people around the world have been asking such questions ever since the first stranger arrived at a door seeking shelter. Since it’s almost Christmas, I thought it might be a good time to look back at one of the world’s oldest refugee stories–of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, who fled from Palestine to Egypt.
Mathew tells us that around the time of Jesus’s birth, three wise men came from the East. They went to King Herod and asked, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” Herod was “troubled” by the question. Who was this child who was king of the Jews, and thus a threat to Herod’s throne?
Herod consulted his prophets, who predicted that the baby would be found in Bethlehem. The wily king told the three wise men. He also ordered the men to tell him when they found Jesus, so he (Herod) could “worship” the new king. Of course, this was a ploy–Herod wanted to find Jesus in order to kill him and eliminate the threat to his throne. The wise men (being wise) understood Herod’s plan. They found Jesus, but never told the king.
Because the wise men foiled his plan, Herod was unable to locate the newborn Jesus. He still wanted to protect himself from the perceived threat, so he ordered all the babies born in Bethlehem murdered. This event became known as the Massacre of the Innocents.
Luckily for Jesus and his family, an angel came to his father Joseph and warned him about the danger. Joseph took the family and fled to Egypt, where they received asylum. The family remained in Egypt until Herod died a few years later. They then moved to a different part of Palestine (Nazareth), to avoid living under the rule of Herod’s son, who was no better than his father.
The Book of Mathew contains nothing about Jesus’s time in Egypt, but there are many interesting Coptic traditions associated with this period (the Coptic church originated in Egypt). In many parts of Egypt, it is possible to visit places where Jesus and his family sojourned. There are churches and other holy sites, like healing springs, caves, and sacred trees. One tree was possessed by an evil spirit, but when Jesus approached, the spirit fled. The tree then bent down to worship him.
Another ancient story says that as Jesus and his family entered Heliopolis, “the noise of a rushing mighty wind was heard, the earth trembled [and] the idols crashed from their pedestals.”
There is also a legend about how the Holy Family was traveling down the Nile River in a boat. At one point, they were sailing past a mountain when a large boulder appeared ready to fall on their boat. Jesus extended his hand and prevented the boulder from falling. The imprint of his hand appeared on the rock.
Another story tells of two robbers who surprised Jesus’s family on the road and tried to steal Joseph’s donkey. One of the robbers saw the baby Jesus and was astonished by his unusual beauty. He said, “If God were to take upon Himself the flesh of man, He would not be more beautiful than this child!” The robber then ordered his companions to take nothing from the travelers. Filled with gratitude toward this generous robber, Mary told him, “Know that this child will repay you because you protected him today.” Thirty-three years later, this same thief hung on the cross for his crimes, crucified on the right side of Jesus’s cross. His name was Dismas. On the cross, he repented for all the evil of his life and declared that Jesus was innocent and wrongly crucified. The Gospel of Luke records that Dismas was the wise thief. The man who spared Jesus in his childhood was granted entry into paradise.
Coptic tradition holds that “Egyptian conversion to Christianity two thousand years ago can be attributed to the historic visit of the Christ Child” and that “Egypt was chosen by God as a place of refuge; truly the people abiding there were richly blessed.” The people of Egypt were blessed because they offered refuge to Jesus and his family when they fled persecution. Perhaps this should remind us of our moral responsibility to help one another, and that the helper often receives as much (or more) of a benefit than the person who is helped.
I applied for refugee status in Canada from 3 months ago with my daughter and my wife and my daughter she is canadian citizen she has 2 yrs old and we get refused from immigration court in Canada so can we applying for asylum in usa after we get refused in Canada with my daughter any my wife, and i need let you know that my wife have US Valid visa B1/B2 visa and my daughter have canadian passport so it’s easy to enter usa but my US visa finished on 4 December 2016 so my question is :can my wife and daughter applying for US asylum inside USA and after they applied can i enter USA through canada – US board without visa? And applying asylum through the canada – US boarder and telling the officer my wife and daughter inside usa now and they already applied for asylum? and i wanna let you my credibility at my case in canada is good and no bad comments about our credibility, but tge judge not feeling we are in a dangerous case in egypt. We get the final decision before cairo cathedral explosion, thanks so much i need your help please
The issue is that there is an agreement between the US and Canada, and if your case was denied in Canada, it may be denied here. I think your family members should talk to a lawyer in the US before they file to see whether the case in Canada will affect them. As for you, if you try to enter the US on a B visa, and you tell the border officer that your family is seeking asylum in the US, they may deny you entry. Even if you do not tell them, they may know, as it seems the US and Canada share a lot of information. Good luck, Jason
Dear Brother / Sister
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ,
[identifying information redacted]
My family not save in Pakistan now , cannot move to any place for preaching the word of God . Sunday Service is limited in Youhanabad . We are getting threats from extremists , threats of killing me , my father and my family members also threatening to church elders and Pastors . Two time attack on me and my family. We have threats calls and letters from extremists , Few people are harasses us , they threat our ministries and threat us to stop preaching. Please pray for us ,
We need your support for asylum ….
God bless you and your team .
Your brother in Christ ,
[redacted]
I redacted your identifying information, as I do not think it is a great idea to include that here, as it is a public forum. As for your case, it seems you would likely qualify for asylum based on the facts as you have described them. To seek asylum in the US, you have to be physically present here first. If you are in the US, you certainly can request asylum. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason: after reading your blog I have been informed with so much updated news about the asylum application, that’s really great great job and pls continue that!
Here are two problems confusing me a lot and there is necessary I put them here and hope you can help. One is that i’m at the stage of waiting my interview but for some reasons I ve changed my address from north california to ohio, i am curious where my interview will be going in? ohio or chicago? also, another thing sounds kinda personal is in my religion asylum application, i was once a mormon believer where my case also showed the evidence of activities and baptism in the church of mormom. But after coming to the U.S. I found christianity looks more attractive to me and then I didnt keep a close touch with mormom any longer, and after the second month when I submitted my application, I have been going to the christian church every week until now while refuse to attend any mormon activities. basically, according to your experience, do you think my situation will affect my interview to get approved? does the change of church matter in your view? Should I offer officer with such adjustment voluntarily even he or she doesnt ask about it during the interview?
God bless us! Thank you!
You can check the website Asylum Office Locator (a link is at the right) and type in your current zip code – it will tell you which office will interview you. As for religion, this only matters if your asylum case is based on religion. You do need to tell them your religion at the interview – they will ask you when they go over that question on the form, and if they do not ask, you should tell them. But unless your case is related to religion or religious persecution, I do not see why this will affect anything. Take care, Jason
Thanks Jason, but the problem is my case is exactly,totally, the religion related, it is about religion persecution. The thing is my motherland don’t allow either mormon or christianity, but since i was baptized as mormon and my application described how my religious activities caused my tough situation in motherland so that i need a asylum status, do you think it matters?
If you face persecution because of your religion, then it is a basis for an asylum case. Take care, Jason
Hi. I have applied for asylum from new york in january 2015 but until my intetview not conduct.plz guide me that 1.can i apply for short list for interview from new york? 2.if yes then plz tell me the procedure to apply for short list.thanks
I do not know the procedures for the short list in NY. You can email them and ask. Their email address can be found if you follow the link at the right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Hi Dzubu, Thanks for guidance to asylum seekers. i read ur blog regularly.
i am 50 years old from pakistan.i applied for political asylum in january 2015 from New york. Got EAD card.But still no interview call. i have an offer of job in texax.plz guide me that: If i move my asylum case from New york to texas then it will be slow or fast in Texas as compare to New York?
You can check the Asylum Office Scheduling Bulletin – there is a link at the right side of this page. Texas is faster, but it is generally considered a more difficult office to win. In nay case, if you make a permanent move, you need to tell USCIS (using form AR-11). It is not your choice. If you tell them you moved to Texas, they will probably move your case. Take care, Jason
Thanks sir.i read that link.it shows that New York office is faster.it did interviews in november 2015 who applied in May 2014.so sir 1.i applied on january 2015 from new york so when my interview month may come probably? 2. What is the approval ratio of political asylum in new york office? Kindly reply in detail.thanks sir.
The chart cannot predict how quickly interviews will come, but it gives you some idea. I expect you will be waiting for a few more months, but that is just a guess. As for approval ratings in NY, I do not know. I do plan to do a posting about that in the future. Take care, Jason
Happy Christmas for you and your families. I filed asylum in April 7, 2015 in Arlington and put my name in June, 2015 and interviewed on December 10. Its approved within two weeks of interview and I picked up the result on the eve of Christmas, yesterday. Its the good Christmas gift ever. Thanks for all your information. I get about shortlist notice from your post and it helped me.
I am glad to hear it – Congratulations and best of luck in the US, Jason
HI Jason
I applied for my asylum in April 2013 and yet it’s been pending ( like everyone else ) . today I got a new fingerprint appointment !
Is this normal ? is just because my fingerprint is expired ? is it a good sign or bad sign ? does this mean I may get asylum interview anytime soon ?
Thanks a lot for your kind supports.
It is pretty normal – in some cases, it means an interview will follow soon; other times, it does not mean that. Check the Asylum Office Scheduling Bulletin (a link is at the right side of this page) and you can see who is being interviewed at your local Asylum Office. Maybe your interview is soon. Take care, Jason
With wich office pls?
Hi Jason,
Thank you once again for all the great topics you choose for discussion and explanation.
I’m sorry that my question would be out of this topic.
My asylum case is pending sense Apr 2015, but I’ve received my EAD. Some jobs in the DMV area needs security clearance (e.g. DoD security clearance or some other types of top level security clearances). Can I obtain it if my employer apply on behalf of me or I apply myself? Or I need to have green card or citizenship?
I think it depends on the job. Some jobs probably require that you have a green card. Many jobs involving security clearance are only available to US citizens. If you have an employer, maybe they can consider sponsoring you for an employment-based visa or a J-1, if you are eligible. Good luck, Jason
Jason:
Sorry for disturbing you again. My EAD I-765 Application case was received by my local office. what does it mean? why they transfer to the other office? please advise.Thank you!
It sounds normal. The EAD takes about 4 months these days. Take care, Jason
4 months for an initial EAD? Or an EAD renewal?
We are seeing cases take 4 months for both; sometimes, it is faster.
thanks .. you alredy reply ..:)
I applied for asylum for me and my son 4 yrs old. till now no interview scheduled.
my spouse determine as a refugee by UNHCR and his case transferred to IOM ( international organization for migration in Jordan -amman) for ressetlement process to the united state.
he is waiting USCIS officer interview ., My question is : do you think my asylum case in US will effect on his ressetlment process or USCIS decision ? or his case will be process seperatly?
THanks
I do not think it will affect his case, but USCIS may know about the case (and probably you should tell them), so make sure that your case and his are consistent. Take care, Jason