Political Asylum Law and Legal Definition
Political asylum refers to the protection given to political refugees from arrest by a foreign jurisdiction. A nation or embassy that affords such protection is also called asylum. Asylum is not the same as refuge. In case of asylum the asylum-seeker (or asylee) seeks his or her status after arriving in what is hoped will be the welcoming country, whereas a refugee is given that status before traveling to the final destination.
Asylum is a complex issue because people have many different reasons for leaving their homeland and not all asylum seekers warrant protection from another government. Further, the process of obtaining asylum is also a complicated one involving a series of interviews and paperwork that to many can seem daunting.
