US gave 700 Indians political asylum in 2014

WASHINGTON: The US provided 700 Indians political asylum last year as against 419 in 2013, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

"The USCIS Asylum division granted asylum to 419 individuals with Indian citizenship and/or country of birth in 2013 and 700 in 2014," USCIS said in a letter to California- based North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) under the freedom of information act.

"This does not include any individuals who may have been granted asylum by a Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review immigration judge," USCIS said.

"One thing is very clear that the number of asylees of Indian origin are increasing every year, which is a matter of concern," said Satnam Singh Chahal, NAPA executive director.