Today, the Northwest Immigration Justice project along with volunteer attorneys settled a nationwide class action lawsuit that will now allow individuals seeking asylum in the US to receive employment authorization within the 6 month period required by law. Under the flawed system that existed prior to this settlement individuals with cases pending were often found ineligible for work authorization for delays to the case that were more related to our backlogged immigration courts then the applicant delaying the case.  Applicants were forced to wait months before they could even begin the application process due to court backlogs and then were given hearings sometimes years into the future, without the ability to work.  With the new settlement, getting an applicant a work authorization will be timely and straightforward, allowing individuals fleeing persecution to start supporting themselves and healing sooner.