How are laws changing for asylum seekers?
This page provides time-sensitive updates for asylum seekers about: asylum, work permits, social security numbers, immigration court, dismissed cases, TPS, CBP One, CHNV, detention, ICE, SIJS, birthright citizenship, and travel. The most recent changes are marked or below.
Asylum
If you are currently in the U.S. with a pending asylum application (Form I-589), your asylum application is still valid. You can continue to seek asylum. That is true if you applied for asylum in immigration court or with USCIS.
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 here.
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.
Work permits based on asylum
If you have a work permit based on a pending asylum application, your work permit is still valid. You can 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, learn what steps you can take.
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 here.
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.
So far, most people have been able to attend their hearings without being detained. But there are things to be aware of:
The government can detain people at their preliminary hearings (“master calendar” hearings) and continue the immigration court case from detention. As of now, this is still rare.
The government can detain people at the end of their final court hearing (the “individual” hearing) if the judge denies asylum, even if they appeal. We have started to hear more reports of this happening.
The government can ask the immigration judge to dismiss your case and try to detain you and put you in a faster deportation process called “expedited removal.” If the government tries to dismiss your case and you do not want your case dismissed, you can tell the immigration judge clearly. If you want to seek asylum, you can tell the judge. You can also try to ask for more time to reply.
If you do not attend your immigration court hearing, you will most likely receive a deportation order.
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.
Immigration court cases that were previously dismissed
If you applied for asylum in immigration court and your immigration court case was dismissed in the past, this means that your asylum case ended, without a final decision.
Your next steps depend on whether you want to continue seeking asylum or not. This is a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances. Learn about next steps if you want to continue seeking asylum.
It is possible that even after your immigration court case is dismissed, the government could start another immigration court case against you. Also, if you have been living in the United States for less than 2 years and you did not enter with a visa, the government could detain you and put you in a faster deportation process called “expedited removal” instead of an immigration court case.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
If you have TPS from any country except Haiti, 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 Venezuela:
The U.S. government announced that it was ending the previous extension of TPS for immigrants from Venezuela. However, immigrants filed a lawsuit, and on March 31, 2025, a court stopped this change temporarily.
People with Venezuela TPS can now re-register to extend their TPS to be valid until October 2, 2026. And most work permits based on Venezuela TPS are automatically extended until April 2, 2026. Learn more here.
TPS for Haiti:
The U.S. government announced that they are shortening the length of TPS for immigrants from Haiti. Previously, TPS for Haiti was valid until February 3, 2026. Now, it will expire on August 3, 2025.
TPS for Afghanistan:
The U.S. government has announced they are ending TPS for Afghanistan on July 14, 2025.
TPS for Cameroon:
News reports say the U.S. government is ending TPS for Cameroon. It will expire on June 7, 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.
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 using the CBP One App 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 App 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: The government is trying to end CHNV parole early and sent notices. However, immigrants filed a lawsuit and a judge stopped this change from happening for now. For now, if you have CHNV parole and a work permit, they are still valid until the original expiration date.
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.
Pause in application processing: The government has also announced that they are not processing immigration applications for people who received CHNV, U4U or Family Reunification parole. If you are eligible for a work permit, asylum, TPS, or permanent residence, you can still submit an application, but the government will not make a decision on the application and we do not know whether you will receive a receipt.
Detention, deportation, and raids
The U.S. government is conducting immigration raids and creating new detention centers. The government also wants to use a faster deportation process called “expedited removal” for immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for less than 2 years, and who did not enter the U.S. with a visa.
Read information about immigration detention for asylum seekers.
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 received a work permit through deferred action in the past, USCIS may send 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.
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 they will cancel visas for people from South Sudan.
The news has also reported that the U.S. government could soon prevent people from other specific countries from entering the United States, even if they were traveling with a valid visa. Here is a report about this, but we do not yet know the final list of countries or when it could happen.
Note: This information is for adults who are seeking asylum in the United States without a lawyer. We hope this information helps you navigate the immigration process. This information is not intended to be legal advice and ASAP is not your lawyer. To look for legal assistance, visit ASAP’s find help page.