The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued crucial guidance to help stateless noncitizens living in the U.S. who are looking for immigration benefits or submitting other requests to USCIS. Stateless individuals, those without legal citizenship in any country, often encounter identity challenges and limited access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and job opportunities. This new guidance provides clarity on the criteria and process for USCIS to consider an individual as stateless when evaluating their immigration benefits or other requests.

To effectively implement this guidance, USCIS will develop updated procedures and provide enhanced training for officers. Specially trained personnel will assist adjudicating officers in reviewing an individual’s potential statelessness and provide recommendations on what to consider when making decisions on applications or benefit requests. Additionally, USCIS officers will have access to specific documentation and evidence examples to assist in determining whether noncitizens may be classified as stateless for USCIS purposes.

In addition to supporting stateless noncitizens, this guidance will help USCIS collect data on this vulnerable population. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 218,000 stateless people currently reside in the United States. With this new approach, USCIS aims to ensure fair treatment and improve support for stateless individuals seeking immigration benefits and other necessary services.

At ILBSG, we actively monitor updates to provide our clients with the right advice for their specific immigration situations. If you have any questions about immigration-related issues, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.