Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data show that 65 percent of unaccompanied alien minors’ asylum applications were immediately approved by asylum officers in Fiscal Year 2014, according to a press release from the House Judiciary Committee. And most unapproved cases are later approved by an immigration judge. This means that the vast majority of aliens who seek asylum are now successful in their claims despite the fact that an internal Department of Homeland Security report says that 70 percent of asylum cases contain proven or possible fraud.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., commented on the new information:
“President Obama’s refusal to crack down on rampant asylum fraud is one of the many reasons we are witnessing a surge of Central Americans seeking to enter the U.S. illegally at the border. New data showing that the vast majority of Central Americans’ asylum claims are immediately approved will only worsen the situation along our southern border by encouraging more to come and take advantage of the situation. Our asylum laws are in place to help individuals who are facing truly serious persecution in their countries. However, while I was in the Rio Grande Valley earlier this month, law enforcement officials on the ground said that the vast majority of Central Americans arriving at our border come to meet up with another family member who is already in the United States illegally.
“President Obama has many tools at his disposal to stop this border crisis, including cracking down on fraudulent asylum claims and implementing tougher standards for preliminary asylum screenings. Unfortunately, he refuses to use these tools and instead makes the situation worse by refusing to enforce our immigration laws.”
The Committee notes that if a USCIS asylum officer does not approve an application, it is referred to an immigration judge where the applicant can try again. If the judge rejects the claim, the person can continue to appeal the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals or federal courts.
Approval rates by asylum officers increased from 28 percent in 2007 to 46 percent in 2013 while approval rates by immigration judges in affirmative cases increased from 51 percent in 2007 to 74 percent in 2013.
According to the release, "Once individuals are granted asylum, they have access to all major federal welfare programs."
Read the Judiciary Committee press releases on asylum approval rates and fraud.
