One of the issues --which I think has been recently addressed, is that not only political prisoners and people persecuted by a bad government could seek asylum, but other things would qualify --even things which affect Americans, would be grounds for asylum. Obviously many are economic migrants (the congress need to work on seasonal work visas), but that's not grounds for asylum. You even hear of how they get coached for the interview. What keywords to blurt out which trigger a greater consideration.