- Playing
- Political Asylum/Asile Politique
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- Sarah Elzas
In 2005, the US and France were the top two countries in the world accepting asylum seekers?together welcoming almost 90 thousand people. International law dictates how countries define asylum seekers; the process of getting asylum works in pretty much the same way in both countries.
The biggest difference seems to be attitudes towards asylum as a concept, which get expressed in policy decisions. In the United States, since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, the government is particularly concerned with security. France?s asylum laws are, of course, wrapped up with Europe, and the EU has a tendency to see asylum seekers as illegal immigrants.
This piece looks at how the United States and France (and by extention Europe) figure out who is an asylum seeker. The laws reveal how each country balances its national interests with its humanitarian and international obligations.
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Piece Description
In 2005, the US and France were the top two countries in the world accepting asylum seekers?together welcoming almost 90 thousand people. International law dictates how countries define asylum seekers; the process of getting asylum works in pretty much the same way in both countries. The biggest difference seems to be attitudes towards asylum as a concept, which get expressed in policy decisions. In the United States, since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, the government is particularly concerned with security. France?s asylum laws are, of course, wrapped up with Europe, and the EU has a tendency to see asylum seekers as illegal immigrants. This piece looks at how the United States and France (and by extention Europe) figure out who is an asylum seeker. The laws reveal how each country balances its national interests with its humanitarian and international obligations.
Broadcast History
This piece aired on December 26, 2006, on Radio France International (English Service).
Transcript
SUGGESTED HOST INTRO:
The US and France are the top two countries in the world accepting asylum seekers?together welcoming almost 90 thousand people. Independent producer Sarah Elzas looks at how each country figures out who is an asylum seeker. And by extension, how they balance their national interests with their humanitarian and international obligations.
OUTRO: Independent producer Sarah Elzas
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Millions of people are displaced each year by wars and violence. Thousands leave their countries, seeking refugee elsewhere. Those who come to a country asking for protection become called asylum seekers.
US Asylee 1: I'm from Liberia, West Africa. My story started from back in uh- 1996. I was arrested and put in prison, my wife and myself, and we went through some horrible things in prison. Not too pleasant to talk about, but we...
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