Skip to Main Content

Immigration Law Research

Why COI?

Country Conditions/Country of Origin Information (COI) Research is the process of gathering information about the internal conditions of a foreign country.  Lawyers that represent refugees seeking asylum in the U.S. must prove that their clients are "unable or unwilling to return to, and [are] unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion." (see 8 U.S.C. sec. 1101(a)(42)(A); 8 U.S.C. sec. 1158(b)(1)(A)). 

U.S. Government Sources

Foreign Government Sources

International Organizations Sources

Asylum Cases & Administrative Decisions/Guidance

Academic Sources (Books & Articles) on Country Conditions

News & Research Guides

Directories of Expert Witnesses on Country Conditions

Maps


University of Minnesota Law Library
Reference Desk: 612-625-4309 • Circulation Desk: 612-625-4300 • Contact Us