What is the primary purpose of asylum in the US?

The primary purpose of asylum in the United States is to protect individuals from persecution. Asylum is granted to those who have fled their home countries and are unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on specific factors such as race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. This legal protection enables individuals to seek refuge in the U.S. and offers them safety from the threats they face in their home countries.

The other options, while related to immigration processes, do not capture the core function of asylum. Pathways to citizenship, temporary work status, and family reunification serve different objectives within immigration policy. While obtaining asylum can eventually lead to a pathway to citizenship, this is not its primary purpose. Asylum is fundamentally about providing safety and protection from serious harm due to persecution.