Which legal framework governs the definitions and standards for asylum and refugee processing?

The legal framework that governs the definitions and standards for asylum and refugee processing is primarily found in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The INA provides the foundational legal basis for immigration and nationality laws in the United States, including provisions that pertain to asylum applications and the criteria for granting refugee status.

While the Refugee Act of 1980 is significant as it amended the INA to incorporate the United States' obligations under international law regarding refugees, the INA remains the overarching statute governing the operational processes of asylum and refugee determinations. The INA defines who qualifies as a refugee, specifies the application processes, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of asylum seekers and refugees once they are granted status.

The Homeland Security Act primarily focuses on the restructuring of the Department of Homeland Security and does not specifically establish the standards for asylum and refugee processing. Additionally, while the International Refugee Convention established important international norms regarding the treatment of refugees, it does not serve as a direct legal framework within the U.S. legal system for processing asylum claims.

Thus, the Immigration and Nationality Act serves as the main legal governing document guiding the asylum and refugee processing framework in the U.S.