Asylum: A Memoir & Manifesto

In his memoir "Asylum," Edafe Okporo, a Nigerian asylee and global gay rights and immigration activist, shares his experiences of fleeing Nigeria for New York City, navigating the US immigration system, and advocating for immigration justice. He calls for a just immigration system for refugees everywhere and highlights the need for integration and compassion.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

A poignant and moving memoir, as well as an urgent call to action for immigration justice, is written by Edafe Okporo, a Nigerian asylee and international gay rights and immigration activist.

Edafe Okporo was abruptly awakened on the night before his twenty-sixth birthday to a violent mob banging on his window in Abuja, Nigeria. The mob threatened to kill him after learning the secret he had been keeping for years—that he is gay. He had no other option but to buy a one-way ticket to New York City and flee for his life. When he arrived just days before the turbulent 2016 Presidential Election, America, which had always been portrayed to him as a land of freedom and opportunity, was anything but.

Edafe would spend the next six months in an immigration detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He successfully navigated the complex and frequently harsh US immigration and legal system, eventually receiving asylum. However, he soon came to the realization that America excels at imprisoning people but falls short when it comes to integrating freed refugees into society.

Asylum, Edafe's eye-opening and thought-provoking memoir, chronicles his experiences growing up gay in Nigeria, fleeing to America, navigating the immigration system, and building a life for himself as a Black, gay immigrant. Alongside his personal story is a loud call to action, not only for immigration reform but also for a fair and just immigration system for refugees worldwide. This book imagines a future where immigrants and asylees are treated with fairness, transparency, and compassion. Its goal is to help us understand that home is not just a place where we feel safe and welcome but also where we can create a safe and welcoming environment for others.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 148 x 221 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781982183745