Posts filed under: Blog

Man denied asylum even though threatened by a hitman Urias-Orellana v. Bondi, 146 S. Ct. 845

From the desk of Thon Dari Maung, Assistant Director Mr. Urias, from El Salvador, was denied asylum. He testified that a hitman demanded money fromhim, shot two of his half-brothers, and threatened to kill all members of his family. In... Read More

Building Belonging Together: Free Burma Society’s Season of Gathering and Gratitude

December 25, 2025 Written by Kay Khine This year—through both joy and hardship—Free Burma Society was honored to walk alongside the Burmese resettled community during a season of togetherness and reflection. Christmas offered a meaningful opportunity for families and friends... Read More

Asylum Denied: Use of Passport to Depart Country

December 17, 2025 Written by Thone Dari The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) denied asylum to a respondent (“R”) from Moldova. R testified that he was beaten twice by police in 2021 due to his political opinion. Following those incidents,... Read More

Danish Government Report – August 2024

From the desk of Kay Khine, Executive Director November 17, 2025 In August 2024, the Danish Immigration Service released a 95-page report titled “Myanmar: Security Situation, Return, and Military Service.” This report—recently referenced by an asylum officer—is available on our website in... Read More

Opinion:

The August 5, 2025 questioning of the Burmese activist was a textbook example of a high-pressure asylum interview—methodical, repetitive, and designed to test both memory and credibility. The officer probed every aspect of the activist’s account: application history, past harm, political activities... Read More

America: A Land of Freedom, Human Dignity, and Second Chances

July 4 2025 While America is often described as a land of opportunity, it is also a land of freedom, human rights, and dignity. The story of this Karenni refugee family, whom Free Burma Society helped resettle in the United... Read More

Free Burma Society Celebrates a Hard-Fought Asylum Victory Amid Tragedy

June 13 2025 Free Burma Society is honored to share the bittersweet outcome of a recently resolved asylum case involving an elderly Burmese woman who faced years of hardship before receiving protection in the United States. After surviving two strokes... Read More

ASYLUM OFFICER TRAINING MATERIALS RELEASED

From the desk of Thone Dari Maung, Assistant DirectorMay 21, 2026 Free Burma Society filed a FOIA request with US-CIS, askingfor documents given to asylum officers, about Burma. US-CIS ignored the request, so Free Burma filed a Complaint in federal... Read More

Abuse in the Past May Not Be Enough for Asylum Relief

From the front desk of Thone Dari Maung, Assistant DirectorMay 9, 2026 A recent immigration case shows how difficult it can be to win asylum even after serious abuse. InMatter of D-G-B-L- (2026), a woman from Mexico explained that she... Read More

Preparing for an Asylum Interview

From the front desk of Thone Dari Maung, Assistant DirectorMay 8, 2026 Preparing for an asylum interview can feel stressful and overwhelming, especially for people whohave experienced trauma or fear in their home country. One helpful way to prepare is... Read More
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