Over Half of Immigration Asylum Requests Granted Immediately, According to Report

Over half of the asylum applications in the 2014 fiscal year are approved immediately, according to a report released Saturday.

The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Bob Goodlatte, released a report stating that over 65 percent of unaccompanied alien minors’ asylum applications saw immediate approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, whose data was cited in the report.

These numbers appear to have risen substantially in recent years. In '07, the approval rate for asylum applications was only 28 percent. In 2013, asylum officials only granted 46 percent of all applications.

These numbers only add fuel to the contention over the immigration crisis at U.S. borders. Citizens and lawmakers alike are at odds over what steps should be taken to address the crisis, in which over 90,000 undocumented youth from Central America are expected to arrive in America during the 2014 fiscal year.

Immigrants entering into the U.S. with claims for asylum are heard through an immigration process that includes their case being heard by a judge and by asylum officials. 

Pro-immigration activists are urging lawmakers to welcome immigrants and slow deportations, while conservative opponents are pushing for expedited removal from the U.S.

According to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, immigrant children fleeing dangerous conditions in their countries will likely be given asylum in America.

“What that means is that if an immigration judge determines that they face a credible threat of death upon their return to their home country, then, again, I’m not an immigration judge, but it is likely that the immigration judge will find that person should be granted humanitarian relief,” said Earnest to reporters on July 14.

“What that means is that if an immigration judge determines that they face a credible threat of death upon their return to their home country, then, again, I’m not an immigration judge, but it is likely that the immigration judge will find that person should be granted humanitarian relief,” he continued.

But critics like Goodlatte are much more skeptical of such claims.

“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,” Goodlatte said in a statement.

“Our asylum laws are in place to help individuals who are facing truly serious persecution in their countries,” he continued.

According to the same report released by Goodlatte, approval rates for immigration judges who approve asylum cases have also increased dramatically, jumping from 51 percent in 2007 to 74 percent in 2013.

Goodlatte called on President Obama to immediately address the approval rates.

“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,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, he refuses to use these tools and instead makes the situation worse by refusing to enforce our immigration laws.”

A number of immigration protests are slated to take place around the nation this weekend. Attempts to transport immigrant children from Texas to less-crowded facilities have been met with opposition, and in some cases roadblocks, where angry protesters on both sides are rallying for reform.

Still, there is a change of mindset where least expected; Glenn Beck and Ted Cruz, both of whom are traditionally conservative immigration opponents, have urged the nation to accept the children from Central America, most of whom are traveling alone and fleeing violent situations.

Glenn Beck will be traveling with Ted Cruz to the Rio Grande Valley this weekend, where they will deliver hot meals, soccer balls and teddy bears to the children affected by the crisis.