Immigration activist Alejandra Oliva on the art (and pain) of filling out an application for asylum

CHICAGO — The first 75 or so arrivals stepped out of buses at Union Station clutching clear plastic bags that held few possessions. This was almost a year ago. Each had been to the United States-Mexico border with the hope of immigrating to this country. Once there, they were put on buses bound for the self-styled sanctuary city of Chicago. Many did not speak English. Some spoke English, but felt more comfortable speakingSpanish. Most came from Venezuela and Nicaragua and Cuba. They were mothers and children and fathers and single men and single women, and they shared two things in common: The...