Illegal aliens are filing false asylum claims with the federal government to delay deportation ahead of the more aggressive immigration enforcement policies that are expected to be part of the Trump administration. By applying for asylum, illegal aliens gain legal status until their case goes before a judge who will rule on their claim.
The influx of border surgers who have illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since 2014 have also abused the asylum process in order to remain in the United States legally. Asylum claims are supposed to be reserved for foreign citizens who have a credible fear of persecution in their home countries on the basis of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
The number of asylum cases has risen dramatically during Pres. Obama's time in office. The number of claims in 2015-16 were 10 times higher than in 2009 when President Obama issued an executive action to grant parole into the country of anyone arrive with a claim of 'credible fear' to pursue their asylum claim, rather than stay in custody pending a full review of their qualifications, as the law stipulates. While the number of claims has increased, the number of persons granted either affirmative or defensive asylum has remained roughly the same.
"We are doing more and more of these cases," Jerome Lee, an immigration attorney in Norcross, Ga told the Wall Street Journal. "It's an aggressive technique."
While there is no recent data available, the American Immigration Lawyers Association sent out an advisory last month outlining "ethical considerations" that attorneys should refer to in filing new applications.
For more information, see the Wall Street Journal.
