INS DISCUSSES RESULTS OF RECENT CHANGES IN ASYLUM RULES

On the first anniversary of the release of rules dramatically reforming the asylum application process (the rules went into effect on January 4, 1995), Immigration and Naturalization Service Commission Dorothy Meissner issued a news release assessing the impact of the changes. According to Meissner, the number of new claims filed with the INS dropped by 57%. In addition, INS asylum officers have doubled their productivity, completing 126,000 cases during 1995 compared with 61,000 in 1994. Meissner noted that 84% of applications are heard by the INS within 60 days. Meissner did not state how many asylum applications were approved in 1995 compared to the previous year.

The new procedures require applicants to appear at an asylum office to receive notification of the asylum decision. At that time, the applicant is granted asylum or is served with charging documents which formally begin deportation proceedings. The new rules also make it much tougher for asylum applicants to get work authorization.

Critics of the new rules point out, however, that not only are baseless applicants deterred, but thousands of legitimate applicants are probably not applying for asylum either because the new rules are so severe. Furthermore, asylum advocates point out that INS officers have been denying all asylum claims, forcing almost all cases to court.