Asylum application denial rate in FY 2020

The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) is a non-partisan organization, at Syracuse University, that exposes information, figures and details about activities of the federal government through data gathering and research.

TRAC recently released a report called “Asylum Denial Rates Continue to Climb,” which exposes official figures of asylum applications, approved and denied, during FY 2020 (fiscal year, October-September) in the US.

It is important to keep in mind that the massive outbreak of Coronavirus in the North American territory was also present during this period of time, which affected immigration processes, lengthened waiting times and reduced possibilities for asylum seekers, mainly due to immigration policies implemented by the Trump administration and the travel ban during the health crisis.

Let’s see some official figures:

• During FY 2016, the last year of Barack Obama’s administration, the rate of denial of asylum applications was 54.6%.
• During FY 2020, the rate of denial of asylum applications increased to 71.6%, which represents the highest number in the last two decades.
• Countries most affected by asylum application denial rates during FY 2020 are Honduras (87.3%), Guatemala (85.8%) and El Salvador (81.9%).
• China had the highest number of asylum applications approved during FY 2020, which was 76.7%.

Thus, asylum application denial rates increased substantially during FY 2020, which, according to TRAC, happened thanks to policies of the current administration of the US and the immigration judge assigned to each case.

However, TRAC also states that asylum seekers with legal representation are more likely to have their applications approved by the immigration judge. Asylum seekers without representation were 13.4% less likely than those with representation to obtain international protection through political asylum during FY 2020.

Do you need help with an immigration case? Contact Motion Law and follow the advice of our experienced attorneys, whether you have a case based on family, employment, study, humanitarian programs, or any other.

The political asylum process under the Donald Trump administration

Trump’s asylum policies have substantially reduced chances for immigrants to apply for international protection in the US.

In President Trump’s view, the asylum process is a fraud and the country should adopt an immigration system based on merit, rather than humanitarian programs or family ties.

Thus, over the past four years, the Trump administration has tried to restrict the entry of asylum seekers and increase requirements to apply for international protection, leaving thousands of immigrants currently waiting in Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) in limbo.

Adding to that, the current administration of the US has also tried to reduce chances for asylum seekers to receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and deny applications if asylum seekers have participated in a misdemeanor.

However, since the American population elected Democrat Joe Biden as the next president of the nation in the November 3 election, it is quite possible that the political asylum process will change, as well as current immigration policies.

This is mainly because Biden takes a more welcoming stance than Trump when it comes to the immigration sector, and plans to increase benefits available to immigrant communities in the US, including asylum seekers.

Motion Law can help you with your immigration case

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.