Asylum claims jump despite Trump's attempt to limit immigration
Source: The Boston Globe
By Ron Nixon DECEMBER 11, 2018
WASHINGTON — The number of migrants asking the United States for asylum out of fear of returning to their home countries jumped nearly 70 percent from 2017, according to Department of Homeland Security data released Monday, despite Trump administration efforts to limit refugees.
Nearly 93,000 asylum-seekers who crossed the border illegally or turned themselves in at official ports of entry in 2018 cited a credible fear of being targeted because of race, religion, nationality, political opinions, or social group. That is up from nearly 56,000 migrants who asked for asylum last year because they feared returning home, the data shows.
Nearly 60 percent of all foreigners asking for asylum were people in families, according to officials with Customs and Border Protection, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security.
Agency officials attributed the increase to smuggling organizations that exploit migrants’ hopes with assurances that they will be able to stay in the United States if they falsely claim they fear going home.
Read more: https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/12/10/asylum-claims-jump-despite-trump-attempt-limit-immigration/GRNlxBqWoaIYRIsw89Gp2O/story.html