Trump Administration Moves to Restrict Work Permits for Asylum Seekers
Washington – A proposed regulation from the Trump administration could indefinitely pause new work permits for asylum seekers, sparking concerns from immigrant advocates about potential economic hardship and disruption. The draft regulation, released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), ties work permit eligibility to agency processing times.
New Regulations and Processing Delays
Under the proposed rule, USCIS would halt the acceptance of work permit applications when average processing times exceed 180 days. The regulation also extends the waiting period before asylum seekers can even apply for a work permit, increasing it from 150 days to 365 days.
USCIS anticipates that this could lead to an “extended period, possibly many years,” where new work permit applications from asylum seekers are paused.
Advocacy Group Concerns
Immigrant advocacy groups have strongly criticized the proposed regulation. Conchita Cruz, co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, stated that the regulation would be “catastrophic” for asylum seekers, their families, and U.S. Communities. She argued that removing legal employment from individuals already residing and contributing to the U.S. Economy is both “cruel” and “bad policy,” potentially harming U.S. Families, businesses, and the overall economy.
Broader Immigration Restrictions
This proposed change is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to restrict legal immigration and reduce humanitarian benefits. Recent actions include attempts to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) benefits for hundreds of thousands of immigrants and authorizing the detention of refugees who have not yet applied for lawful permanent residence after their first year in the U.S.
Previous Attempts to Extend Waiting Periods
The Trump administration previously attempted to increase the employment eligibility waiting period for asylum seekers to one year in 2020.
Recent Actions Regarding Asylum Decisions
In late November 2025, the Trump administration announced a pause on all asylum decisions following a shooting involving National Guard members in Washington, D.C. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow stated that all asylum decisions were halted “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” The State Department also paused issuing visas for Afghan nationals at that time.
President Trump stated he would “permanently pause migration” from some countries, though the specific countries were not initially identified.