NEW DELHI – The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed Parliament that Indian asylum seekers “denigrate” the nation and society for “personal gain.” This statement followed data revealing that over 41,000 Indians applied for asylum in the United States last year, an 855% increase from 20121, with nearly half from Gujarat. In FY 2023, 5,340 Indians received asylum, with 2,710 affirmative and 2,630 defensive cases, making India the fifth-largest nationality for defensive asylum grants.
According to the 2023 Asylees Annual Flow Report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, released in October, 41,030 Indian nationals sought asylum in 2022. Responding to a query by MP Kapil Sibal in the Rajya Sabha, the MEA noted that India, as a democratic nation, provides legal avenues for addressing grievances but claimed that asylum seekers undermine the country’s reputation while seeking foreign protection.
The U.S. asylum process requires applicants to meet the definition of a refugee, which is someone unable or unwilling to return to their home country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on factors like race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion. The Homeland Security report highlighted a dramatic rise—nearly 855%—in asylum applications from Indians over the past three years