Wow.  Ok, let's try a theoretical on you:

Let's say you live in a country with an unstable regime... and you did something that annoyed the local warlord...  (complained about taxes, practiced the wrong religion, didn't allow him to murder your family... whatever)  Ok, so somehow you scrape together enough money to make the trip and seek refugee status in the United States... so here you are in America waiting to get your refugee status approved so you can start a new life.  With me so far?

Next... a new President is elected...  a president who pledges to expel all illegals, send away anyone whose status is dubious, jokes about kicking everybody out.  You have no idea if the next knock at your door will be INS to put you on a plane.  Do you a) wait and HOPE you won't be sent home for execution or b) make for the nearest undefended border where refugees are still permitted and you can still hope for a fair hearing?  Think about it.