Credible Fear Applications up in U.S. from Central America

sfgate.com reported in the last five years, “credible fear” applications at the border have increased sevenfold, from just under 5,000 to more than 36,000, driven largely by an influx from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Advocates for the immigrants say the surge can be traced to worsening gang and drug violence in Central America. Others say people who cross the border are simply becoming more aware of asylum as an option. “People used to think the only thing you could do was sneak across,” said Judy London of the Immigrants’ Rights Project at the Los Angeles pro bono law firm Public Counsel. “They’ve learned that you can just go up to a border agent and tell them you want asylum.” With the jump in asylum applications has come concerns about possible fraud and abuse. Read Article