The number of Indians seeking asylum in America increased by 855%, understand its meaning.

New Delhi : The number of Indians seeking asylum in America has seen a significant increase in the last three years. This trend reflects the strong allure of living the American dream. Data from the US Department of Homeland Security shows that from 4,330 in the US fiscal year 2021, the number of applicants increased by 855% to 41,330 in fiscal year 2023. Officials at Indian agencies say about half of these applicants are from Gujarat. In 2023, the number of Indians seeking defensive asylum was the fifth largest. The number of positive asylum applications was the seventh highest. The Department of Homeland Security’s 2023 Refugee Annual Flow Report, released in October, said 5,340 Indians received asylum that year.

Applications increased three times

The 4,330 in fiscal year 2021 included both affirmative applications (2,090) and defensive applications (2,240) submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The following year, the total number of applicants nearly tripled to 14,570. Of these, 5,370 were affirmative and 9,200 were from defensive questions. By fiscal year 2023, the number of Indian asylum applications is expected to rise to 41,330, nearly three times the previous year’s total.

When, how many Indians got asylum?

In FY 2021, 1,330 Indians were granted asylum. This includes 700 through affirmative applications and 630 through defensive action. In FY2022, this number will more than triple to 4,260. This includes 2,180 affirmative and 2,080 defensive applications. This growth continued in FY 2023. 5,340 Indians got shelter in this. Of these, 2,710 were through affirmative cases and 2,630 were through defensive action. This made India the fifth leading nationality for affirmative asylum grants.

What is an affirmative, defensive statement?

Anyone in Affirmative Asylum who is not in removal processing can proactively apply for asylum through the U.S. government, through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) . If the USCIS asylum officer does not approve the asylum application, the applicant is referred for removal proceedings.

Defensive Assam: A person subject to removal processing may apply for asylum defensively by filing an application with an immigration judge in the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) at the Department of Justice. In other words, applying for asylum is used as a defense against removal from the US.