Legal Question in Immigration Law in Maryland

Re: political asylum

If your friend is considering a trip back home -- i.e., back to the persecuting country -- then the situation must have changed significantly for the better. As a permanent resident (green card holder), I don't think anything stops them from returning, but it would seem odd if they only recently received their green card. The basis of obtaining permanent residency through political asylum is that the asylee is unwilling to return home due to political persecution. It doesn't look too good to return home soon after a grant of asylum unless something has really changed there. Just to be safe, I would wait until your friend naturalizes (becomes a US citizen). Your friend can apply for citizenship after 5 years of permanent residency, and if that's granted, that's that -- they can travel wherever they want. If naturalization is their ultimate goal anyway, be aware that the application process requires disclosure of all trips abroad since becoming a permanent resident. It may raise a lot of questions during the application process if they returned home soon after getting a green card.