This page provides time-sensitive updates for asylum seekers about: asylum, work permits, social security numbers, immigration court, TPS, CBP One, CHNV, detention, ICE, SIJS, birthright citizenship, self-deportation, and travel. The most recent changes are marked or below.
Asylum
If you are currently in the U.S. and your asylum application (Form I-589) is still pending, you can continue to seek asylum.
However, in May 2025, the government started to send letters to some people who applied for asylum with USCIS, telling them that their asylum cases were dismissed. Learn more here.
Also, in May 2025, the government started to ask judges to dismiss many asylum cases in immigration court, especially for immigrants who have been in the U.S. for less than two years. The government is detaining many immigrants at their immigration court hearings. Read important updates.
If you have won asylum, your asylee status is still valid, and you can apply for permanent residence (Form I-485). However, the government has reportedly stopped processing permanent residence applications for most or all people who have won asylum. You can still submit the application, but the government may not make a decision on it.
The U.S. government has announced that people can no longer apply for asylum at the border.
If you are currently in the U.S. and you have not submitted an asylum application, you can still submit one if you are eligible. Applying for asylum is a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances. Learn more about asylum.
Work permits based on asylum
The U.S. government is considering changes to work permits that could make it very difficult for asylum seekers to receive work permits in the future. As of today, these changes are not in effect.
If you have a work permit based on a pending asylum application, your work permit is still valid. You can still renew your work permit before it expires.
If you applied for asylum and you do not have a work permit yet, you can still apply for a work permit 150 days after the government receives your asylum application.
If you are applying for your first work permit as an asylum seeker, the government is supposed to make a decision on your work permit application within 30 days. However, processing delays are getting worse. If you do not receive a decision within 30 days, there are steps you can take, but they may not work.
Social Security Numbers
Immigrants can still apply for social security numbers in their work permit applications.
In the past, immigrants would receive a social security card automatically when their work permit was approved. However, news reports have said that social security numbers are no longer being sent automatically to many immigrants.
After you receive your first work permit, you can schedule an in-person appointment and fill out a form to apply for a social security card. Learn more.
The U.S. government has also cancelled social security numbers for some immigrants who no longer have immigration status. However, there are no reports of widespread cancellation of social security numbers for asylum seekers at this time. If you believe your social security number was canceled, you may want to consult with a lawyer.
Social security offices may be sharing information with immigration agencies.
Immigration court hearings
If you have a case in immigration court, your case is still active until the judge makes a decision. Check your case status every week in case there is a new decision or a new hearing date.
Starting in May 2025, the government has been detaining many immigrants at immigration court hearings. People who have been in the U.S. for less than 2 years are especially at risk of being detained and put in a faster deportation process called “expedited removal.” But other immigrants are also at risk. If you do not attend your immigration court hearing, you will most likely receive a deportation order. Please read important updates.
The U.S. government has announced that immigration judges can now deny asylum without having a final court hearing – if the judge thinks the asylum case is not strong enough. We do not yet know what will happen in practice. If you have not spoken with a lawyer about your asylum case before, you can look for a lawyer.
If your immigration court case was previously administratively closed (your case is still in court but not scheduled for future hearings), check the status of your case. Many immigration court cases that were administratively closed, even for years, are being scheduled for new hearings. To check your case status, call the court hotline at 1-800-898-7180 or go to this website.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
If you have TPS from any country except Haiti and Venezuela, your TPS is still valid until the expiration date. If you have a work permit based on TPS, your work permit is still valid as well.
If you have a pending TPS application, your TPS application is still pending until you receive a decision.
You can still apply for TPS for the first time, if you are from specific countries and meet other criteria. Learn about TPS.
TPS for Afghanistan:
The U.S. government has announced they are ending TPS for Afghanistan on July 14, 2025.
TPS for Cameroon:
The U.S. government has announced they are ending TPS for Cameroon on August 4, 2025.
TPS for Haiti:
The U.S. government announced that they want to end TPS for Haiti early, on September 2, 2025. Immigrants filed a lawsuit and a court blocked the government from making changes. While the court order is in place, TPS for Haiti is still valid through February 3, 2026. Learn more here.
TPS for Nepal:
The U.S. government has announced they are ending TPS for Nepal on August 5, 2025.
TPS for South Sudan:
For immigrants who currently have TPS for South Sudan, their TPS status and work permits have been automatically extended to November 3, 2025. No re-registration is required.
TPS for Venezuela:
The U.S. government announced that they want to shorten the length of TPS for immigrants from Venezuela. Immigrants filed a lawsuit and a court temporarily blocked the government from making changes – but then the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the government to move forward with some changes while the lawsuit continues. Read more below about the current status.
2021 TPS: If you originally applied for TPS for Venezuela in 2021, your TPS is valid through September 10, 2025.
2023 TPS: If you originally filed for TPS for Venezuela after October 2023, the government has now ended many people's TPS and work permit. But there are exceptions: (1) If you had already received a new work permit or a receipt notice before February 5, 2025, then your work permit remains valid for longer; (2) If you had already received a new TPS approval notice before February 5, 2025, your TPS remains valid for longer.
Learn more details here (click on FAQs). Or visit this USCIS website.
People with TPS can also apply for asylum or other types of immigration status if eligible. This can be a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances. If you decide to apply for another immigration status, it is best to apply before your TPS expires.
Parole through CBP One
If you came to the U.S. through a CBP One appointment, you likely received a temporary status called “parole.”
The government has stopped scheduling CBP One appointments and has stopped accepting new immigrants who want to come to the U.S. through CBP One.
Many people with CBP One parole have received a notice in their email or CBP One application (now called "CBP Home") ending their parole early.
Even if your parole ends, if you have another pending immigration application such as asylum, that application remains valid and you can continue with it. If you have a work permit that is not based on parole, that work permit also remains valid. If you have a case in immigration court, your case is still active until the judge makes a decision.
If you have parole and you do not already have another pending immigration application, you may want to consider applying now, if you are eligible. Some people with parole could be eligible for asylum or other types of immigration status. However, this can be a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances. Every time you complete a new application, you are providing updated information to the government that they may not have already.
Parole through CHNV and other country-specific programs
If you came to the U.S. through special processes for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), Ukraine (U4U), Afghanistan (OAW), or El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia (Family Reunification), you likely received a temporary status called “parole.” The government has stopped accepting new immigrants who want to come to the U.S. through any of these parole programs.
CHNV: On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court said the government can end CHNV parole early. You may receive a notice terminating your parole status and work permit by email or in your online USCIS account. However, immigrants are continuing to fight the lawsuit. Learn more.
OAW, U4U, and Family Reunification: If you have parole through OAW, U4U, or Family Reunification, your parole is still valid until the expiration date. However, it is possible that the government may try to end these programs early in the future. Also, in April 2025, the U.S. government sent notices by mistake to some immigrants with U4U and OAW parole, saying that their parole was ending. The government has said this was a mistake – your parole remains valid until the expiration date.
Submitting new applications: If you have parole and you do not already have another pending immigration application, you may want to consider applying before your parole ends, if you are eligible. Some people with parole could be eligible for asylum or other types of immigration status. However, this can be a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances. Every time you complete a new application, you are providing updated information to the government that they may not have already.
Application processing: If you submit a new immigration application (such as an application for a work permit, asylum, TPS, permanent residence, or something else), or if you already submitted an application, the government should start processing it. Previously, the government had paused processing immigration applications submitted by people who had received CHNV, U4U or Family Reunification parole. However, on May 28, 2025, a court ordered the government to start processing these applications again. Learn more.
Detention, deportation, and raids
The U.S. government is conducting immigration raids, creating new detention centers, and detaining many immigrants. The government is also expanding the use of a faster deportation process called “expedited removal” for some immigrants.
Here are some safety measures that asylum seekers can take to protect themselves and their families in the United States.
If you have a loved one who is detained, learn about immigration detention.
If you have an upcoming immigration court hearing, read important updates about the risk of detention.
You may have seen or heard recent messages from the U.S. government saying that immigrants should “self-deport." Here are things to know.
ICE check-ins
Some immigrants have check-ins with ICE, and some do not.
The government has begun detaining more people during ICE check-ins.
If possible, talk to a lawyer before you go to your next ICE check-in. Find legal help here.
If you go to an ICE check-in, here are some things you can do to prepare:
If you have pending immigration applications, bring copies of documents that show this, such as an asylum application receipt.
If you have lived in the U.S. for more than 2 years, bring copies of documents that show this (see examples here).
If you have special circumstances, bring copies of documents that show this, such as birth certificates of any children born in the U.S. or medical documents about an illness or injury.
Ask someone who is a U.S. citizen to go with you to the check-in if possible.
You can also make an emergency plan beforehand.
If you are detained at an ICE check-in, and you are afraid to return to your country of origin, you can tell as many immigration officers as possible that you are afraid to return to your country of origin and you want to seek asylum.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
You can still apply for SIJS as a new applicant. Pending SIJS applications are still being processed.
Previously, if you won SIJS, you could immediately apply for a work permit through a process called “deferred action.” But as of April 2025, this is no longer possible. If you win SIJS after April 2025, you will generally need to wait until you are eligible for permanent residence before you can apply for a work permit. If you currently have a work permit based on SIJS deferred action, your work permit is valid until it expires, unless you receive a notice ending your work permit early.
If you are granted SIJS, you may be eligible for permanent residence (a green card). However, there are currently long delays. When you apply for a green card, you can apply for a work permit based on the pending green card application.
You can apply for asylum or other types of immigration status at the same time as you apply for SIJS. This can be a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances.
Birthright citizenship
On January 20, 2025, the President signed an Executive Order that tried to restrict birthright citizenship. In response, ASAP members filed a lawsuit, arguing that the Executive Order is illegal and that it should be stopped.
On February 5, 2025, ASAP members won a huge victory! A judge issued a “preliminary injunction” to block the Birthright Citizenship Executive Order from going into effect. While the injunction is in place, children born in the United States will continue to be recognized as U.S. citizens. ASAP members’ lawsuit is the first to win a preliminary injunction against the Birthright Citizenship Executive Order.
On June 27, the Supreme Court issued a new decision on the birthright citizenship case. For the next 30 days, babies born to immigrant parents will continue to be recognized as U.S. citizens. After 30 days, lower courts will have to decide whether the Birthright Citizenship Executive Order can go into effect for some babies. ASAP is immediately taking action to continue to defend the citizenship of all children born in the U.S. after 30 days – including by filing a class action lawsuit.
Read more about birthright citizenship and ASAP members’ lawsuit.
Travel
If you are an asylum seeker traveling within the United States, consider carrying a U.S. ID or other proof of your immigration status. As of May 7, if you are traveling by plane within the U.S., you will need a “REAL ID” such as a work permit or valid passport from any country. Read more.
The U.S. government announced new travel restrictions for citizens of some countries, listed below.
Starting on June 9, 2025, citizens of these countries will not be allowed to enter the U.S. (with some exceptions): Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Starting on June 9, 2025, citizens of these countries will not be allowed to enter the U.S. when using certain visas (with some exceptions): Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
There are exceptions to these June 9 travel restrictions. The government has said the travel restrictions do not apply to:
People who have already been granted asylum, withholding, or protection under the Convention Against Torture.
People with refugee status who have already been admitted to the United States.
People who already received visas of any kind before June 9, 2025.
Permanent residents (green card holders).
People with immediate family visas and adoption visas.
People with Afghan Special Immigrant Visas.
People with dual citizenship who are traveling with passports from a different country.
This is not a complete list. There are other exceptions, too. Read more details.
The U.S. government announced they are canceling visas for people from South Sudan.
ASAP aims to provide factual information about current immigration laws. This information is not legal advice.