Blog
-
Regime Begins Training Female Military Conscripts
By Han Yin, August 10, 2026 The Myanmar military regime has begun training female conscripts for the first time since activating the country’s forced conscription law. According to the Myanmar Defense & Security Institute (MDSI), a research organization founded by defecting military officers, female conscripts recently arrived at the No. 4 Warrant Officer and Sergeant…
-
Burma Country Conditions Training Materials for Asylum Officers
By Han Yin Based on materials and research provided by David L. Cleveland USCIS released 219 pages of Burma country-conditions training materials https://louisetraumacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/219-pages_merged-1-2.pdf in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by the Free Burma Society. These materials were used to provide information to asylum officers reviewing cases involving Burma/Myanmar. The full…
-
Recent Accomplishments of the LTC (January 2025 – July 2026)
By Han Yin, Manager: Over the past year and a half, the Louise Trauma Center (LTC) has continued to grow and expand its support for asylum seekers and immigrant communities. From January 2025 through July 2026, the LTC website has remained active by regularly publishing blogs, legal updates, and educational resources to help individuals better…
-
DUI and Asylum
From the desk of Han Yin,Manager: Man from Cameroon denied asylum because he had been convicted four times of driving under the influence of alcohol here in the United States Matter of P-A-C-, 29 I&N Dec. 708 (BIA 2026) In this case, a man from Cameroon who had experienced persecution and trauma in his home…
-
Fear of Conscription: A Conversation with a Young Woman in Burma
From the desk of Han Yin, Manager, A few days ago, I had a conversation with a 25-year-old woman, who lives in Yangon Burma. She is full of stress and uncertainty, due to the threat of military conscription. She immediately said that she was scared. She reads and hears about women getting conscripted, and she…
-
Man from Nigeria denied relief
From the Desk of the Han Yin, Manager, Man from Nigeria denied relief under the Convention Against Torture because none of his relatives had been kidnapped or harmed and because he could have lived elsewhere in Nigeria to escape the men with guns In Matter of J-O-A-, 29 I&N Dec. 672 (BIA 2026), a man…
-
No “significant” injury no asylum
FROM THE DESK OF HAN LIN, MANAGER No asylum for a man held in detention for three days, where he wasbeaten once, because he did not need medical treatment, and he did notsuffer “significant” injury A man from Mauritania took part in protests his government and was later arrested. Hewas detained for three days. During…
-
No relief for woman because her abusive ex-partner wasno longer interested in harming her
From the Desk of the Han Yin, Manager May 9, 2026 Ms. “DG” was abused and threatened by her ex-partner in Mexico; so she fled and arrived inthe United States in 2023.The BIA denied relief, ruling that, Yes, she had been “severely harmed,” but there was no“objective evidence that he would be aware of her…
-
How to prepare for your asylum interview
From the Desk of the Han Yin, Manager May 8, 2026 One of the most effective ways to prepare for an asylum interview is to review real questionsthat have been asked by asylum officers. Understanding how these questions are structuredcan help applicants better organize their thoughts and present their experiences clearly andconfidently.https://winyourasylumcase.blogspot.com is an online…
-
Wider Range of Asylum Interview Questions
From the Desk of the Han Yin, ManagerMay 7, 2026 Recently, asylum officers have been asking a wider range of questions during interviews.These questions are not only about what happened in the applicant’s home country, but alsoabout their life, behavior, and connections in the United States.Some of the questions applicants may hear include: