Question

After a hurricane hits the Dominican Republic, Edwin does not have a home and is struggling to find work anywhere on the island. He moves to Mexico to see if he can find work. Edwin wants to get help from the US government, but doesn’t know if he would qualify as a refugee. Given the information above and your knowledge of government and politics, could Edwin apply for refugee status?

Answer 1

Edwin's circumstance of moving due to a natural disaster and subsequent economic hardship likely would not qualify him for refugee status under U.S. law, which requires a well-founded fear of persecution based on politics, religion, race, or nationality.

Step-by-step explanation:

Edwin, who is from the Dominican Republic and has moved to Mexico after a hurricane, wants to know if he could apply for refugee status in the United States. According to the 1980 Refugee Act, a refugee is defined as anyone with a "well-founded fear of persecution" based on politics, religion, race, or nationality. In past scenarios, U.S. asylum policies were influenced by Cold War politics, favoring individuals fleeing from Communist countries, as seen with the Cuban refugees. However, Edwin's situation does not seem to stem from persecution but from a natural disaster and economic hardship. Under the current definitions and application of asylum laws, it's unlikely that Edwin would qualify as a refugee, as his reasons for leaving do not align with the grounds of persecution required for refugee status.