Ga. asylum applications explode in year since new immigration law

Asylum applications by undocumented Mexican immigrants here in Georgia have skyrocketed in the year since the state tightened its immigration laws, a new audit of petitions has found.

Peach State asylum applications by Mexican nationals have jumped 280 percent year-over-year for the fiscal year that began in October.

While only 59 asylum seekers filed petitions in all of last year, at least 224 have done so in the last 9 months.

- James Richardson