Lok Sabha Question No. 2868 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Indians seeking Asylum in US
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2868

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## INDIANS SEEKING ASYLUM IN US

2868.      SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- whether  there  has  been  a  sudden  surge  in  Indians  seeking
- (a) asylum in the US;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  in  2015,  141  people  had  been  granted  asylum  as compared to 60 people in 2013 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  inquired  into  the  grounds  on which the US Government has granted asylum to Indians;
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof;
- whether there is also increase in the number of women who
- (f) have sought asylum in the US;
- (g) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  to  what  extent  trafficking  is responsible  for  increase  in  the  number  of  women  seeking asylum; and
- (h) the steps taken or being taken by the Government to inquire into the causes of Indians seeking asylum in foreign countries?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) to (c) According to the 'Annual Flow Report (2014) For Refugees and Asylees' that is published by the U.S. Department of Homeland  Security,  the  United  States  provides  asylum/refuge  to

persons through two programmes: 1) a refugee program for persons outside  the  U.S.  and  their  immediate  relatives,  and,  2)  an  asylum program for persons in the U.S. and their immediate relatives.

This Report classifies asylees into two categories viz. 'Affirmative Asylees' and 'Defensive Asylees' and provides numbers under these two categories.

As per data from the latest edition of the Annual Flow Report 2014 (issued in April 2016), following numbers of Indians were given Asylee status in the US in 2012, 2013 and 2014 (numbers for 2015 are not available):

| Year   | Affirmative Asylum                   | Defensive Asylum                   | Following-to-join Asylees                                                                           |
|--------|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        | Affirmative Asylum granted (Indians) | Defensive Asylum granted (Indians) | 'Following-to-join Asylees' (family members of a person already given asylum in the U.S.) (Indians) |
| 2012   | 93                                   | 253                                | 79                                                                                                  |
| 2013   | 358                                  | 322                                | 362                                                                                                 |
| 2014   | 118                                  | 372                                | 226                                                                                                 |

Source: [https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Refugee s%20%26%20Asylees%20Flow%20Report%202014\_508.pdf]

(d) & (e) The US Government does not share any information with our  Mission  or  our  Consulates  on  the  number  of  Indians  who  have sought or have been granted asylum or the grounds on which the US Government has granted them asylum.

(f) to (h) Numbers for asylum granted to Indian women in the US are not available, nor are the reasons for grant of asylum to them.

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