Asylum and "Credible Fear" Issues in U.S. Immigration Policy
Asylum and "Credible Fear" Issues in U.S. Immigration Policy
Asylum and "Credible Fear" Issues in U.S. Immigration Policy
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<strong>Asylum</strong> <strong>and</strong> “<strong>Credible</strong> Fear” <strong>Issues</strong> <strong>in</strong> U.S. <strong>Immigration</strong> <strong>Policy</strong>Ethiopia 47<strong>Asylum</strong> seekers from Ethiopia comprise the smallest number of cases among the six sourcecountries studied. The 13-year average was 972 for affirmative claims <strong>and</strong> 689 for defensiveclaims, with only modest variations from year to year. Ethiopian asylum seekers were alsonoteworthy among the six source countries because each year from FY1997 through FY2009 theyfiled more affirmative cases than defensive cases (Figure 10). Although small, the number ofEthiopian “credible fear” claims dur<strong>in</strong>g expedited removal has risen markedly from 13 <strong>in</strong> FY2005to 107 <strong>in</strong> FY2009.Figure 10. <strong>Asylum</strong> Seekers from Ethiopia12 Thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Credible</strong> Fear Affirmative Defensive10864201997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009Fiscal YearSource: CRS presentation of data from the USCIS Directorate of Refugee, <strong>Asylum</strong>, <strong>and</strong> InternationalOperations <strong>and</strong> the Office of Plann<strong>in</strong>g, Analysis <strong>and</strong> Technology <strong>in</strong> the Executive Office for <strong>Immigration</strong> Review.Notes: Data represent cases not <strong>in</strong>dividuals.47 For background on country conditions, see Bureau of African Affairs, Background Note: Ethiopia, U.S. Departmentof State, November 2010, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2859.htm.Congressional Research Service 19
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