What is the "well-founded fear" standard for denying asylum to an illegal immigrant?

The "well-founded fear" standard has an objective component and a subjective component. Estrada-Posadas v. INS, 924 F.2d 916, 918 (9th Cir.1991). The subjective prong is satisfied by "a showing that the alien's fear is genuine." Id. The objective prong is satisfied by a showing, on the basis of "credible, direct, and specific evidence in the record, of facts that would support a reasonable fear of persecution." Id.

An alien who meets a higher standard, showing that "it is more likely than not that [he] would be subject to persecution" if returned to his home country, has a right to withholding of deportation, INS v. Stevic, 467 U.S. 407, 429-30 (1984), even if the Attorney General exercises his discretion to deny him asylum.