Outdated Asylum Laws Fail Climate Refugees in Crisis

Indigenous Miskito people from Honduras are seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to establish climate change as grounds for protection. The Miskito, who were devastated by hurricanes and faced violence from drug cartels, are testing the idea that extreme weather caused by climate change can be considered persecution. However, winning asylum on this basis is challenging, and their lawyers may incorporate other factors such as discrimination or vulnerability due to reliance on natural resources. As the number of asylum cases continues to rise, questions arise about the meaning of asylum in the 21st century and how the U.S. immigration system will determine who deserves sanctuary.