Using Technology to Meet the Needs of Asylum Seekers in the United States: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Design Considerations and Web Content Accessibility for Immigrant Populations by Ron Michel

The Constitution provides that foreigners within U.S. borders be protected from: Racial discrimination Point of origin based discrimination Arbitrary treatment by the government

Although foreigners have no Constitutional right of entry into the U.S., refugees within U.S. territory have the right to ask for asylum.

Laws have been enacted and federal notices published that effectively take the right to request asylum from certain groups of immigrants: Expedited removal laws Notice Designating Aliens Subject to Expedited Removal Under Section 235(b)(1)(A)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act English only laws

In December 2001 the Immigration and Naturalization Service (now the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) instituted a blanket policy of denying parole to all Haitian asylum-seekers. Asylum claims filed by these Haitians were processed so quickly that many were unable to find legal representation

Effect: Some refugees do not get the opportunity to ask for asylum by pleading their case before a judge Justice becomes Inequitable and Inaccessible

Solution: Legal profession has moral and professional responsibility to insure asylum application process is available to all refugees This can be accomplished through: Language instruction Web-sites Online pro bono attorneys

Considerations: Instructional technology Human – computer interactions