This book investigates the systemic failures and procedural inconsistencies within the United States asylum adjudication process. Philip G. Schrag, a professor of law and director of the Asylum Law Clinic at Georgetown University, utilizes his extensive experience representing asylum seekers to analyze the legal hurdles faced by refugees. He argues that the current system is plagued by arbitrary decision-making and a lack of uniform standards, which often results in the denial of legitimate claims. The text provides a critical examination of how political pressures and administrative biases influence the outcomes of asylum cases.

Legal scholars and immigration practitioners frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the practical realities of asylum law. Readers often note the clinical, evidence-based approach Schrag takes in documenting the systemic flaws within the immigration court system.