The Trump Administration has unveiled a proposal aimed at preventing asylum seekers from obtaining work permits in the United States.
Announced on Friday via a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the initiative seeks to curb "the incentive to file frivolous, fraudulent, or non-meritorious asylum applications by altering the submission and eligibility criteria for foreigners seeking employment authorization based on a pending asylum application."
"For too long, fraudulent asylum claims have provided an easy route to employment in the U.S., overwhelming our immigration system with baseless applications," a DHS spokesperson noted in the statement.
The proposal advocates for a comprehensive overhaul of the asylum system to enforce regulations and reduce the backlog inherited from the previous administration. "Foreign nationals are not entitled to work while their asylum applications are being processed. The Trump Administration is intensifying background checks on asylum applicants and restoring the integrity of the asylum and work authorization processes," the statement added.
The proposal is open for public comment over the next 60 days. If approved, it would halt the acceptance of work permit applications when the average processing time at the agency exceeds 180 days.
This suspension could last for an extended period, potentially several years. Additionally, it would extend the wait time to 365 days before asylum seekers are eligible to apply for a work permit.
According to Efe, over 1.4 million affirmative asylum applications are currently pending evaluation by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In response, immigration attorney Willy Allen shared with the independent outlet Café Fuerte that this represents "another cruel effort by this administration to humiliate and increase anxiety within the immigrant community."
"This new policy will only cause suffering and does nothing to ease the asylum review process," Allen remarked.
Impact of Asylum Policy Changes in the U.S.
What is the purpose of the new asylum policy proposed by the Trump Administration?
The new policy aims to reduce the number of frivolous, fraudulent, or non-meritorious asylum applications by changing the eligibility and submission requirements for employment authorization based on pending asylum claims.
How long will asylum seekers have to wait before applying for a work permit under the new policy?
Under the proposed changes, asylum seekers would have to wait 365 days before becoming eligible to apply for a work permit.
What are the potential consequences of the proposed asylum policy changes?
The proposed changes may lead to prolonged waiting periods for work permit applications and increased anxiety and hardship within the immigrant community, without necessarily improving the asylum review process.