In order to have an asylum claim you’ll need to have suffered persecution. It is possible for economic harm to amount to persecution for your asylum case. However, you’ll need to prove that you suffered severe economic disadvantage from your persecutor in the form of deprivation of liberty, food, housing, employment, or other essentials of life. Your economic harm suffered should be “above and beyond [economic harm] generally shared by others in the country of origin and involves more than the mere loss of social advantages or physical comforts.” The immigration officer or judge will consider the following factors to determine if you suffered economic harm:
Your and your family’s earnings;
Your sources of income or housing available to you if you lose your job or housing;
If you are able to find other employment or education;
If your economic disadvantage you suffered (or would suffer) is different from other people in your country (and how they differ); and
Your specific economic losses, for example, health benefits, food rations, etc.
You can consider comparing your financial situation to that of people in your neighborhood to prove your economic disadvantage because of your persecutors. One example of economic disadvantage is from Himri v. Ashcroft where the asylum applicant was not permitted to work, attend school, and even get drinking water, and this was all government-sponsored. The Court found that the this government-sponsored activity led to economic disadvantage.
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