The US Department of Homeland Security opposed Yee's asylum application on the basis that Yee had been legitimately prosecuted. Yee left Singapore with the intention of seeking asylum in the US after being jailed for several weeks in 2015 and 2016. Cole said testimony during Yee's hearing showed that while the Singapore government's stated reason for punishing him involved religion, "its real purpose was to stifle Yee's political speech." "It is the prerogative of the US to take in such people who engage in hate speech," the ministry said. "There are many more such people around the world who deliberately engage in hate speech, and who may be prosecuted.

Source: Bangkok Post March 25, 2017 21:22 UTC