Immigration Lawyer Wallie Mason '87 Quoted in New America Media on Syrian Refugees in California

Immigration lawyer Wallie Mason '87 was quoted in New America Media about the Obama administration's designation of Temporary Protected Status for Syrians currently in the U.S.

"TPS is great and it gives you benefits, but at some point in the future the U.S. government will say, ‘We think Syria has stabilized, and you have to go back now,’” said Wallie Mason, a Los Angeles-based immigration lawyer.

Mason, who has more than 25 years of experience with asylum cases, said that for certain TPS applicants, consulting with an experienced immigration attorney is crucial. Applying for asylum, she said, might actually trigger deportation proceedings if the applicant has a felony, or two or more misdemeanors in the United States on their record. Other issues that could complicate matters include having served in the armed forces of a foreign country, she said.

"Anyone who has served in the Syrian military would be well advised to see an immigration attorney before applying for TPS, as the current government of that nation is considered to be a gross violator of human rights by the international community,” she said.

Read more in New America Media, "Syrians Flee Violence at Home, Find Refuge in Southern California"