Every year on June 20, World Refugee Day invites us to recognize the strength, dignity, and stories of people who have had to flee their countries because of persecution, violence, or conflict.
It is also an opportunity to talk about asylum in the United States. For many people, applying for asylum is not just the beginning of an immigration process. It is a way to seek protection when returning to their country of origin does not feel safe.
In these cases, psychological evaluations for immigration can help document the emotional impact of persecution, fear, loss, or displacement. These evaluations do not replace legal work. However, they can provide important clinical information for immigrants and immigration attorneys.
During June 2026, Carla Parola Counseling is offering a special $75 off discount on services for asylum cases. This promotion is exclusive to asylum cases and is meant to help make professional support more accessible during a particularly meaningful month.
Important note: This is not legal advice. For specific decisions, it is best to consult with your immigration attorney.
What it means to be a refugee and why June 20 matters
World Refugee Day was established to honor people who have been forced to leave their countries. It is not just a symbolic date. It is also a reminder that millions of people are seeking safety because they cannot return home without fear. Its purpose is to recognize the strength and courage of those who fled their countries to escape conflict or persecution.
The date was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 through Resolution 55/76. June 20 was chosen to coincide with Africa Refugee Day, a commemoration that was already observed on that date. In addition, 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, a key document for the international protection of refugees. (Source: United Nations / Resolution 55/76)
That is why talking about refugees also means talking about protection. Many people do not migrate by choice. Instead, they flee because their life, freedom, or safety may be at risk.
In addition, this date helps build empathy. Behind every asylum application, there is a personal story. There may also be loss, grief, fear, and a deep process of adjustment.
When returning to the country of origin is not safe
For some people, returning to their country of origin may mean facing violence, threats, or persecution again. That risk may be connected to political, religious, social, family-related, or identity-based reasons.
In these cases, fear does not always end after arriving in the United States. Many people continue to live with uncertainty. They may also feel anxious about their legal process, their family, or what could happen if their case does not move forward.
For this reason, each situation should be evaluated individually. An immigration attorney can review the legal options. At the same time, a mental health professional can document the emotional impact of what the person has experienced when appropriate.
Asylum in the United States: a path for those seeking safety
Asylum is a form of protection for people who fear returning to their country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. In the United States, this process may be filed affirmatively or defensively, depending on the person’s immigration situation.
USCIS explains that individuals may apply for asylum using Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. This form is used to request asylum and certain related protections. (Source: USCIS)
However, every case is different. That is why this blog does not replace legal guidance. If you are considering applying for asylum, it is important to consult with an immigration attorney.
For attorneys, these cases often require a complete view of the person’s experience. In addition to legal evidence, clinical documentation may help explain how that experience affected the person’s mental health.
What asylum is and when someone may apply
A person may consider applying for asylum when they fear returning to their country because of persecution based on legally recognized grounds. These grounds may include race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
In practice, asylum cases may involve many different experiences. For example, they may include threats, physical violence, abuse, political persecution, gender-based violence, severe discrimination, or lack of protection from authorities.
In addition, many asylum seekers have lived through difficult situations before, during, and after migration. Telling their story can be emotionally complex due to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, insomnia, intense fear, and more.
Recent news on asylum
During June 2026, asylum in the United States once again became part of the national immigration conversation.
On one hand, CBS News reported that the administration was considering a plan that would allow for the rapid rejection of some asylum applications without an interview. According to the report, the change would be related to cases considered deficient or filed outside certain deadlines. (Source: CBS News)
On the other hand, USCIS announced on June 5, 2026, the opening of a new asylum office in San Antonio, Texas. This office is intended to increase capacity for scheduling and conducting affirmative asylum interviews. (Source: USCIS)
In addition, that same month, a federal judge blocked policies that had paused immigration decisions for people from 39 countries. The affected applications included asylum cases, work permits, green cards, and citizenship. (Source: Reuters)
These news updates show that the asylum system can change quickly. For this reason, applicants and their attorneys need current information, clear documentation, and professional support.
The emotional impact of fleeing the country of origin
Fleeing your country of origin can leave deep emotional marks. Many asylum seekers have experienced threats, violence, loss, family separation, or prolonged fear.
In addition, the process does not end after arriving in the United States. Waiting, interviews, hearings, and uncertainty can bring painful memories back to the surface. They can also increase symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, insomnia, or hypervigilance.
The World Health Organization notes that many refugees and migrants may experience emotional distress. It also identifies symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and physical pain. (Source: World Health Organization)
That is why it is important to see asylum as more than a legal process. It can also be an emotional process. The person does not only have to submit documents. Many times, they also have to describe experiences that were painful or traumatic.
The role of psychological support in asylum cases
Psychological support can play an important role in asylum cases. It does not decide the outcome of the case. It also does not replace the attorney. However, it can help understand and document the emotional impact of the immigration experience.
A psychological evaluation for immigration can explore how persecution, violence, or fear affected a person’s mental health. It can also identify symptoms related to trauma, anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress.
In addition, this type of clinical process can provide clarity. Sometimes, a person has difficulty telling their story in an organized way. This does not always mean there is a contradiction. In many cases, it may be related to trauma, fear, or emotional shutdown.
For this reason, immigration attorneys may strengthen case preparation by collaborating with mental health professionals. This collaboration allows the legal work to include a clinical perspective, always through a professional and ethical approach.
How to prepare your story with professional support
Preparing an asylum story can be difficult. As mentioned earlier, it often means remembering painful moments, talking about threats, or explaining why returning to the country of origin would not be safe.
That is why professional support can help organize the experience. It can also offer a safe space to put what happened into words, without pressure and with clinical sensitivity.
At Carla Parola Counseling, psychological evaluations for immigration are conducted through a professional, culturally sensitive approach focused on the emotional impact of each case. During June 2026, in recognition of World Refugee Day, there is a special $75 off discount on services for asylum cases. This promotion is exclusive to this type of case.
If you are seeking to adjust or stabilize your immigration status through an asylum case, or if you are an immigration attorney looking for clinical collaboration for your clients, specialized psychological support can be a valuable tool.
Seeking protection also means caring for your mental health. And asking for help can be part of the path toward telling your story with more clarity, safety, and support.
