AIUSA's Asylum Detention Trainings
The AIUSA’s Refugee Program's intensive weekend trainings prepare
AI members to interview asylum-seekers in detention. Participants learn
about asylum law and interviewing techniques, and visit a detention center
to interview asylum-seekers. We run trainings around the country, for 6-8
people each time.
| "This training was amazing. Not only do I feel prepared to interview detainees, I also left prepared to speak to my Amnesty International student group and my campus community with appropriate expertise. Having pre-reading materials helped me retain the information better and also formulate better questions during the training." - A graduate of our March 2005 training in Philadelphia | Read more comments » |
Purpose of the training
Training “graduates” travel to detention centers and interview asylum-seekers, to find out how we can support their asylum claims. The key information we get from the interviews allows us to provide service to people who are in detention and who lack lawyers. In some cases we could not help - without our trainees' interviews.
Each training includes:
- A class in asylum law
- Mock interviews
- How to avoid re-traumatizing an interview subject
- How to advocate for asylum-seekers
- Changes in U.S. asylum law and policy since Sept. 11
- A special topic in asylum law and practice. Previous topics included: unaccompanied children, LGBT cases, and gender-based persecution claims
- Profile: Field Journal by Eve Lotter
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A group of seven volunteers from throughout the western United States, myself included, participated in the Amnesty International USA Refugee Program's rigorous three-day training session in Los Angeles.
Read more. »