Leonardo DiCaprio plays a U.S. Marshal, sent with his partner (Mark Ruffalo) to seek a missing person who has escaped from the Ashecliffe lunatic asylum not that there is much to escape to, since the asylum is on Shutter Island, miles from civilization in Boston Harbor.

NEWYORKER: Shutter Island

The measures follow the escape of 12 asylum seekers, who have yet to be captured, from the flagship centre on 10 August.

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In the absurdist plot, inmates escape from an asylum, take over the world and kill everyone who rides a bicycle or whose family has ever had anything to do with bicycles.

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McAfee requested asylum in Guatemala, arguing that he left Belize to escape police persecution.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

There are also detainees who immigrated to the United States seeking refuge, seeking to escape persecution -- only to be placed in detention when applying for asylum.

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Even if those immigrants are eventually given asylum, they may have waited in detention for months or years, separated from their families just for attempting to escape strife in their country of origin.

CNN: Commentary: Health reform back on track