USCIS Pausing Pending Asylum Applications, Evaluating Benefits from Countries of Concern

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Tuesday that it will temporarily stop processing all pending asylum claims and pause benefit requests from foreign nationals originating from 19 countries previously identified as high risk.

According to a policy memorandum, USCIS officers are instructed to suspend review of Forms I-589, which include applications for asylum and withholding of removal, for all applicants regardless of the aliens country of nationality, pending a full policy review. For individuals born in or holding citizenship from any of the 19 designated high-risk countries, benefit requests will not be considered until further notice. Affected benefits include applications for permanent residence, green card replacement, travel documents, parole, and arrival/departure records.

The 19 countries affected are: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The memo also directs USCIS staff to re-examine approved benefit requests for applicants from these countries who entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021. This re-review may include interviews or re-interviews and will be conducted on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant facts.

During this period, USCIS will assess its policies and procedures, including operational guidance to ensure accuracy, compliance, and potential improvements. The new policy comes as the administration intensifies focus on immigration and national security following the recent shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who had previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan and arrived in the U.S. under the Biden-era Afghan resettlement program.

The USCIS memo cited Lakanwals case as an example of the consequences of insufficient screening and vetting. USCIS plays a critical role in preventing terrorists from obtaining safe haven in the United States, ensuring that its screening, vetting, and adjudication processes prioritize public safety while complying with U.S. law, the memo stated.

While the guidance may result in delays for asylum applicants, USCIS emphasized that the measures are necessary to safeguard national security. The agency plans to prioritize reviews, interviews, re-interviews, and referrals to ICE or other law enforcement agencies within 90 days.

Author: Sophia Brooks