The U.S. government made claiming asylum increasingly difficult over the course of the past eighteen months. According to NPR, these changes further complicate an already stressful system with more than one million pending cases.

In its most recently proposed change, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would refer certain asylum applications to immigration judges without an interview. According to data analyzed by the group Mobile Pathways, asylum rates reached a twenty-year low. Acceptance rates declined by twenty one percent between 2009 and June 2026. This coincides with mounting pressure towards cutting down the USCIS asylum backlog.

Additionally, the number of appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals increased over the past two years. Between 2009 and 2024, the number of BIA asylum-related decisions never broke forty. 2025 and the first half of 2026 saw seventy decisions each. The exact details of these decisions vary. Some encourage third-country removals while overs add additional scrutiny towards claims of violence and persecution.

Combined with the proposed one-year grace period mandated for asylum seekers, many turn to alternative sources of legal status. These include temporary work authorization or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). However, said grace period also pauses the processing of new work permits. This puts nearly two million people in the labor force at risk of losing their legal status.

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.