Asylum Seekers Considered Security Threats or Public Health Risks to be Barred

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Federal Register notice clarifying when immigrants are not eligible for asylum or withholding of removal. Published along with the Department of Justice (DOC), the Security Bars and Processing final rule, updated on December 29, 2025, is effective December 31, 2025. The rule bars some asylum seekers from consideration.

The updated rule did not make substantive changes to health-related guidelines. However, the ‘fear’ screening was not codified. The updated rule shows clarifications regarding ‘danger to the security of the United States’ as a bar to asylum and withholding of removal related to fear screenings.

Policy Updates

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) put a hold on all asylum applications on December 2, 2025, pending a full review of the program. Outlined in that policy memorandum are three specific elements:

Hold on all Forms I-589 (Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal), regardless of applicants country of nationality.
Hold on all pending requests for individuals from specific countries per the Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10949.
A comprehensive re-review of all requests from individuals from the countries listed in PP 10949 who entered the country on or after January 20, 2015.

The nineteen countries included in the PP 10949 include:

Afghanistan.
Burma (Myanmar).
Burundi.
Chad.
Republic of the Congo.
Cuba.
Equatorial Guinea.
Eritrea.
Haiti.
Iran.
Laos.
Libya.
Sierra Leone.
Somalia.
Sudan.
Togo.
Turkmenistan,
Venezuela.
Yemen.

The Security Bars and Processing final rule is the next step in ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to actively review U.S. asylum policies.

As always, Immigration USA actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.

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