ImmigrationDHS tentatively grants asylum to seven Mexicans

Published 8 August 2013

DHS has tentatively granted asylum to seven Mexican immigrants. Some of the immigrants were previously living the United States illegally, but left and tried to re-enter as part of a protest against the U.S. deportation policies, and in support of granting citizenship to immigrants who were to the United States as children.

DHS has tentatively granted asylum to seven Mexican immigrants. Some of the immigrants were previously living the United States illegally, but left and tried to re-enter as part of a protest against the U.S. deportation policies.

Fox News reports that the temporary asylum is highly unusual because the U.S. government rarely grants asylum to Mexican citizens, but some of these Mexican citizens have a credible fear that if they return to Mexico, they will be persecuted.

The immigrants have spent parts of their lives in the United States. Some of them returned to Mexico voluntarily years ago, while the rest were deported. Three of them were raised in the United States and left specifically to participate in the protest.

The protest aimed to gather support for legislation being considered in Congress to give citizenship to some immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.

House Republicans have recently offered citizenship to some immigrants who fit into this category, but Democrats are not satisfied.

An immigration judge will make the final decision, but the ruling could take years. Until then it is likely that the immigrants will be released and could become eligible for a work permit. The names of the immigrants have not been released.