The definition of an asylum seeker is not ambiguous.
The term "refugee" means (A) any person who is outside any country of such person's
nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such
person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling
to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded
fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group,
or political opinion, or (B) in such special circumstances as the President after appropriate
consultation (as defined in section 1157(e) of this title) may specify, any person who is within the
country of such person's nationality or, in the case of a person
having no nationality, within the country in which such person is habitually residing, and who is
persecuted or who has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality,
membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets...mmigration and Nationality Act 101(a)(42).pdf