Advances in transportation and communications have made travel easier for people all over the world. These things. plus developments such as the rise of nationalism and interethnic violence and a deep worldwide recession. have prompted the movement of large numbers of people in many regions of the world. In the face of all this change. our immigration laws still reflect an earlier time. When the Congress first codified U.S. asylum laws in 1980. we did so because America has always had a tradition of compassion for oppressed and persecuted peoples. Unfortunately. in our desire to provide a safe haven for those who legitimately fear for their lives. we have made it too easy for unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of our good will by using asylum procedures to circumvent the regular immigration process. Asylum and refugee laws should apply to individuals who have a legitimate fear of personal persecution in their home country. and not those who are fleeing from areas of general unrest or poverty. The United States does not have the resources it once had to help all those around the world who live in substandard conditions. or to accept all those who wish to come here for a better life. We have many people in our own country who are living in substandard conditions. many people in our own country who dream of having a better life.
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asylum laws refugee immigration