Immigration FAQ

Asylum seekers:
No, it is legal to enter the country to request asylum.

Refugees:
No, refugees are legally recognized before they enter.

Documented immigrants:
No, documented immigrants enter legally on visas.

Undocumented immigrants:
Most undocumented immigrants overstay their visas, which falls under civil—not criminal—statutes. So they aren’t criminals.

Asylum seekers:
All immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than people born in the USA.

Refugees:
All immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than people born in the USA.

Documented immigrants:
All immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than people born in the USA.

Undocumented immigrants:
Undocumented immigrants are more unlikely to commit crimes if only because they’re afraid of being noticed and deported.

Asylum seekers:
They have a credible fear of harm if they stay in their country.

Refugees:
They have a credible fear of harm if they stay in their country.

Documented immigrants:
They may come for many reasons.

Undocumented immigrants:
They may come for many reasons.

Asylum seekers:
They cross the border and then ask for asylum.

Refugees:
They receive recognition as refugees before they enter.

Documented immigrants:
They receive recognition as refugees before they enter.

Undocumented immigrants:
Usually they overstay their visa, but sometimes they cross the border without a visa.

Asylum seekers:
They are completely reliant on the support of friends, family, and volunteers in their community until they can start working.

Refugees:
The government provides some financial support, but it is less than social security support for people who have paid into the system for years.

Documented immigrants:
None.

Undocumented immigrants:
None.

Asylum seekers:
6 months after they receive legal recognition.

Refugees:
Immediately.

Documented immigrants:
Depends on what their visa says.

Undocumented immigrants:
Depends on finding willing employers.

Asylum seekers:
Yes.

Refugees:
Yes.

Documented immigrants:
Yes.

Undocumented immigrants:
They pay billions of taxes every year in tax returns filed and in taxes deducted from paychecks because they want to show that they have good moral character when they apply for recognition. They’re unprotected taxpayers.

Asylum seekers:
Yes, once they have been working long enough.

Refugees:
Yes, once they have been working long enough.

Documented immigrants:
If they have visas allowing them to work and are permanent legal residents.

Undocumented immigrants:
Not unless they arrived as children and received recognition under DACA.