The Asylum program assists immigrants fleeing harm and persecution abroad by providing legal representation for their asylum cases. Asylum-seekers have been forced to flee their home countries after experiences such as female genital mutilation (FGM), gender-based violence, wrongful imprisonment, and torture, yet in Georgia, they face one of the steepest immigration court denial rates in the nation. However, having an attorney can multiply their chances of success by up to 5 times — that’s why GAIN has worked to provide free immigration legal representation and holistic support to asylum-seekers for over 15 years.

Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash

GAIN was founded in 2005 as the Atlanta Asylum Bar Project to provide quality pro bono representation to asylum-seekers seeking refuge in the U.S. Today, our Asylum program continues to be a flagship effort for GAIN, serving hundreds of people every year who have been forced to flee their home countries due to harm and/or persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

Despite the effects of the ongoing pandemic, there remains significant community need for asylum services, and GAIN has stepped up to answer the call. In 2021, GAIN’s Asylum program provided service for over 150 asylum cases. GAIN’s team also provided expert technical assistance and guidance to our volunteer attorneys and our partners in the community, with guidance that covers case filings, court appearances, and updated guidance to address issues like Prosecutorial Discretion and Temporary Protected Status.

To request information about becoming a GAIN client, please email help@georgiaasylum.org or leave a voicemail at 678-335-6040 ext. 110. To inquire about volunteering on a case in our Asylum program, contact GAIN’s Asylum Attorney, Serene Hawasli Kashlan, at skashlan@georgiaasylum.org.