Thread by @sisiwei

1/ So let's talk about asylum.

Our current policy of taking in people fleeing persecution was sparked by WWII. In 1939, the U.S. notoriously turned away a boat of nearly 1,000 Jews escaping Nazi Germany. More than 1/4 of those refugees were later killed. projects.propublica.org/asylum/#how-as…

2/ So during WWII, our doors — so to speak — were largely closed. As were the doors of many other countries. The reason? National security concerns.

But after the war, things started to change.

3/ Many countries, including the U.S., agreed to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. We agreed not to deport people fleeing persecution based on “race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”

4/ So what do those criteria mean?

Instead of explaining it to you, we're going to let you live through it instead. The stories we're telling put you in the driver's seat. Real people. Real places. Real life-changing events. No composites. projects.propublica.org/asylum/

5/ Our first story, is about a woman who suffered domestic violence in El Salvador. She tried running away, but her husband always found her. She went to the police, but they wouldn't help. So she left for the U.S. projects.propublica.org/asylum/#game?s…

6/ This story represents one of the largest debates in asylum policy right now. Our El Salvador story applied for asylum based on her "membership in a particular social group" — the least defined category. Read more on how it all works: projects.propublica.org/asylum/#how-as…

7/ Our second story is about persecution based on religion. Live as a Muslim man in Bangladesh who marries a Christian woman: projects.propublica.org/asylum/#game?s…

8/ The third story is about political opinion. Live as a college student in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who participated in student protests, and as a result, was detained repeatedly. projects.propublica.org/asylum/#game?s…

9/ Our fourth story is about being persecuted based on race. A Tibetan man facing discrimination in Nepal is invited to the United States and overstays his visa. projects.propublica.org/asylum/#game?s…

10/ Finally, our fifth story is about nationality. A man born in Ethiopia, deported to Eritrea against his will, and then detained under suspicions of being a spy. projects.propublica.org/asylum/#game?s…

11/ Experience these stories yourself: projects.propublica.org/asylum/#game

and learn about how asylum works, and doesn't work: projects.propublica.org/asylum/#how-as…

But the story doesn't end there. Getting asylum isn't a fairytale ending.

12/ After fleeing persecution and being detained for months or more, some people who win asylum say they’re released without a clue about where to sleep or what government benefits they are entitled to.

"Welcome to America. Now, figure it out." projects.propublica.org/asylum/#what-h…