Expert Answer: If your asylum case is not approved, the next steps depend on whether you applied affirmatively with USCIS or defensively in immigration court. If you applied with USCIS and were denied, your case may be referred to immigration court for removal proceedings, where you can present your case again before a judge. If you are already in court and lose, you may be ordered removed, but you can appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) within 30 days. If cost is an issue, consider seeking pro bono or low-cost legal assistance from nonprofit organizations or legal aid groups.
