The key facts

  • The State Department provided asylum officers with internal assessments comparing crime in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador with US cities (Baltimore, Houston, Memphis) — CNN
  • The documents pay less attention to human rights, kidnappings and extortion; the asylum denial rate in June was 94% versus ~50% two years earlier
  • MPI expert Andrew Selee called this a significant shift despite limited changes on the ground; the State Department said the reports were prepared and reviewed by regional experts

Internal assessments versus public warnings

The US State Department has provided asylum officers with internal assessments indicating that the level of violent crime in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador is no worse than in some US cities — even as the department publicly warns Americans about security risks in those same countries. CNN reported this.

Contents of the documents

In the documents, crime in the four Latin American countries is compared with figures for cities such as Baltimore, Houston and Memphis. According to CNN, the new assessments pay less attention than before to human rights abuses, kidnappings and extortion. They also state that the Honduran police are generally willing and able to respond to requests for help.

Reaction of experts and the department

Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, noted that the assessments downplay the danger posed by criminal groups and the weakness of local institutions, marking a significant shift compared with previous assessments despite limited changes on the ground. According to him, the assessments do not take into account alleged police ties to organized crime and the risks associated with internal displacement. The State Department stated that the reports were prepared and reviewed by regional experts to help US immigration authorities evaluate asylum claims.

Context and statistics

Asylum applicants must prove that they face persecution at home; the assessments can affect their right to protection and relocation. The publication of the documents coincided with a delay in the State Department's annual human rights report, forcing officers to rely on alternative sources about the situation in applicants' countries. According to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, cited by CNN, the asylum denial rate in June reached 94% versus roughly 50% two years earlier. Trump administration officials said the travel warnings are intended to inform US citizens about risks abroad and do not necessarily reflect the level of danger for people living in those countries.