Table of Contents
A MESSAGE FROM UNHCR .............................................................................................................. 1
CHAPTER ONE: UNDERSTANDING, IDENTIFYING, AND PROVING STATELESSNESS .. 3
SECTION 1: OVERVIEW OF STATELESSNESS ........................................................................... 3
SECTION 2: IDENTIFYING THE STATELESS CLIENT ........................................................... 5
SECTION 3: PROVING STATELESSNESS .................................................................................... 6
A. DEFINITION OF A STATELESS PERSON ........................................................................................................... 6
B. INTERPRETATION OF THE TERMS .................................................................................................................... 6
C. EVIDENTIARY CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................................. 10
D. UNHCR AND STATELESSNESS DETERMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ........................................ 11
CHAPTER TWO: AVENUES OF RELIEF FOR THE STATELESS CLIENT ...............................13
SECTION 1: PREPARING AN ASYLUM PETITION FOR A STATELESS CLIENT ................13
A. OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................................................... 13
B. COUNTRY OF LAST HABITUAL RESIDENCE ................................................................................................. 13
C. PERSECUTION .................................................................................................................................................... 15
D. NEXUS TO A PROTECTED GROUND .............................................................................................................. 18
E. PROVING “WELL-FOUNDED FEAR” OF PERSECUTION IN THE ABSENCE OF INDIVIDUAL HARM ... 20
F. STATELESSNESS AND THE FIVE PROTECTED GROUNDS .......................................................................... 21
G. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 22
SECTION 2: DEFERRED ACTION: AN AFFIRMATIVE FORM OF RELIEF ....................... 24
A. OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................................................... 24
B. REQUESTING DEFERRED ACTION................................................................................................................. 25
SECTION 3: REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS: ADDRESSING STATELESSNESS DURING THE
MASTER CALENDAR HEARING ................................................................................................. 29
A. THE CHARGING DOCUMENT: NOTICE TO APPEAR ................................................................................... 29
B. DESIGNATING A COUNTRY OF REMOVAL ................................................................................................... 29
SECTION 4: REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS: ADDRESSING STATELESSNESS DURING THE
MERITS HEARING ........................................................................................................................ 35
A. WITHHOLDING OF REMOVAL UNDER INA §241(B)(3) .............................................................................. 35
B. WITHHOLDING OR DEFERRAL OF REMOVAL UNDER THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE ....... 35
C. CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL FOR CERTAIN NONPERMANENT RESIDENTS UNDER INA §240A(B)(1)
.............................................................................................................................................................................. 38
SECTION 5: MOTIONS TO REOPEN ......................................................................................... 40
A. MOTIONS TO REOPEN ...................................................................................................................................... 40
B. JOINT MOIONS TO REOPEN AND MOTIONS TO REOPEN SUA SPONTE ................................................. 40
CHAPTER THREE: ALLEVIATING OTHER HARDSHIPS ......................................................... 44
SECTION 1: CHALLENGING DETENTION .............................................................................. 44
SECTION 2: ORDERS OF SUPERVISION ................................................................................... 48
SECTION 3: EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION .................................................................... 49
APPENDIX: OPENING BRIEF FROM JOURBIN A V . HOLDER ............................................... 1