The Trump administration is considering a regulation that would prevent most asylum-seekers from getting work permits, potentially upending longstanding U.S. immigration policy.
The Trump administration is considering a regulation that would indefinitely suspend work permits for most asylum-seekers, a move that would dramatically alter U.S. immigration policy, according to two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials.
Under the proposed rule, migrants with pending asylum claims would no longer be eligible for work authorization until U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes all cases within an average of 180 days—a target unlikely to be met given current backlogs. Currently, asylum-seekers can apply for work permits after 150 days, receiving them 30 days later. The new rule would also extend the waiting period to one year.
DHS officials argue the change would curb fraud and economic migration, but advocates warn it could force vulnerable migrants into illegal work. “Asylum seekers are playing critical roles in a wide array of jobs,” said Conchita Cruz of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project.
The proposal mirrors a 2020 Trump-era rule that was later blocked in court. With over 3.5 million pending asylum cases, critics say the policy would create undue hardship. DHS declined to confirm the plan but stated it is “exploring all possible options to protect our national security.”