Thread: New Asylum Scam by Illegals

Gang Fears Force Illegal Immigrants to Request Asylum

A growing number of illegal immigrants are being allowed to stay in the U.S. because they're asking for asylum in fear of recruitment or retaliation from brutal gangs like MS-13 if they return home to Central America.

"Victor Antonio" bears the evidence of the gang life he left behind. On his calf, a tattoo honoring an MS-13 member he says was stabbed to death by Honduran police. On his chest, he has another tattoo for a girlfriend gunned down by a rival gang.

"I'm 100% sure that if I returned to Honduras I would be assassinated by either the police or the gang," said "Antonio" through a translator.

He says he left MS-13 because he didn't want to be a part of its brutality. "They used violence against women and they would rape them and they would kill members of the community for no reason."

His is no longer unusual. Young Central Americans often face a grim future. "They have two choices, which is leave or join the gangs themselves or be persecuted, harmed, killed, tortured, for not participating with the gangs," said immigration lawyer Linette Tobin.

A young Honduran woman, now living in the D.C. area, would not comply with the gang's demands. "They made certain requests of her. She refused and she was the victim of a very violent gang rape by MS13," said Tobin.

Former gang members aren't the only ones seeking asylum; police officers who cracked down on gang activity are looking for a way out. "He and his family both got death threats and told that if they continued in this kind of activity, they were risking their lives. He finally decided for his own safety and for that of his family, he needed to leave the country," said Geoff Thale with the Washington Office on Latin America.

Immigrant advocates reject the idea that asking for asylum is simply a new strategy to get a visa. "Rather than this being some kind of scam to help somebody live a better life here in the United States, it's an opportunity for us to help protect people," said Thale.

"I have nightmares where the gangs are still trying to come after me to kill me. I'm afraid that the police will harm me. These are things I can never erase," said Antonio.

Antonio now lives with his wife and three children in Montgomery County where he does volunteer work with young people to urge them not to join gangs.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0708/540033.html

A growing number of illegal immigrants are being allowed to stay in the U.S. because they're asking for asylum in fear of recruitment or retaliation from brutal gangs like MS-13 if they return home to Central America.

Seeking and receiving are two very different things. I remember reading something regarding this. I believe the article I read stated that the majority of such claims for asylum would be denied. The burden of proof rest with the individual making the claims. Such proof is not easy to supply, especially if your attempting to game the system.

Former gang members aren't the only ones seeking asylum; police officers who cracked down on gang activity are looking for a way out. "He and his family both got death threats and told that if they continued in this kind of activity, they were risking their lives.

How are they going to know if it's a former gang member or an active one seeking to find new members? A good police officer or a crooked one? Not like a background check is really going to do much good.

Oh, good grief! What next? "I broke a nail, therefore I need asylum!"

Originally Posted by MW

A growing number of illegal immigrants are being allowed to stay in the U.S. because they're asking for asylum in fear of recruitment or retaliation from brutal gangs like MS-13 if they return home to Central America.

Seeking and receiving are two very different things. I remember reading something regarding this. I believe the article I read stated that the majority of such claims for asylum would be denied. The burden of proof rest with the individual making the claims. Such proof is not easy to supply, especially if your attempting to game the system.

Well apparently the guy in the article manage to convinces some soft headed immigration judge -- of course it was in DC -- but this is hardly grounds for asylum but I am afraid there may be too many soft-headed judges who will grant asylum. I am amazed at the grounds for which asylum are granted in this country.

Firstly, anyone know how long the review of their asylum plea will take? Years? Second, I don't know how much more population pressure this country can take (or perhaps, since we get so many poisoned products and foodstuffs that enter without checking, the legal American population is on the decline.)