You joke but I wouldn’t doubt if the connotation of “asylum” having to do with insanity serves to strengthen fear of foreigners seeking asylum.

Definition of asylum, for anyone confused:

asylum /ə-sī′ləm/ noun 1. Protection and immunity from extradition granted by a government to a political refugee from another country. 2. A place offering protection and safety; a shelter. synonym: shelter. 3. Protection or shelter; refuge.

Definition of connotation, for those still confused:

connotation /kŏn″ə-tā′shən/ noun - 1. The act or process of connoting. 2. An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing. 3. The set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning.