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Often, a repressive government will use the fact that

an individual received asylum protection to discredit the

applicant's activities that led to his or her persecution in

the home country.  For instance, if a political activist

decided to seek political asylum in a third country, the

mere fact that he applied for political asylum could be used

to discredit him among his followers back home.  One demo-

cratically elected official who was ousted by a coup in his

home country felt that the situation at home would improve

shortly after he fled to the United States.  Because he

would have preferred to return home and assume his govern-

ment position, he intentionally delayed applying for asylum

for several years.  Years later, when the situation still

did not improve, he reluctantly applied for asylum.  But

time was required to get legal representation and prepare

the asylum application.  If the law had been in effect

during that period, the one-year application deadline would

have dashed any hope the elected official had of returning

to his country.

Fear Often Immobilizes Asylum Seekers

The fear of not receiving asylum and thus having to

return to their home country often inhibits genuine victims

of human rights abuses from even trying to seek asylum

protection.  So overwhelming is that fear to some victims

that it is not until months and sometimes years after they

first arrive in the United States that they are comfortable

enough to apply for asylum.  The stories of Rita and Edward

illustrate the insecurity such asylum seekers feel.

Rita fled Guatemala after men in military uniforms

broke into her home and beat and kidnapped her husband, a

Christian Democratic Party activist, accusing him of being a

guerrilla.  Rita was warned by her family and neighbors that

the military also had been looking for her because they

mistakenly suspected her of also being involved in the

party's activities.  She immediately fled with her children

to the United States, but for several years she was unwill-

ing and afraid to tell anyone about what had happened to

her.  In fact, her fear prompted her to cancel several

appointments with a legal representative.  She applied for

asylum only after she was apprehended by the immigration

service, and it was granted.  She has not heard any news of

her husband since she fled.