Trump Administration Considers Major Change to Asylum Work Permits

The Trump administration is considering a significant change to its asylum policy, potentially denying or delaying work permits for nearly 4 million asylum seekers. This move, first reported by CBS News, would reverse a decades-long practice of allowing asylum seekers to work while their cases are processed. "The people who would be most affected are those applying for work permits and political asylum," explains Michelle Sánchez, an immigration lawyer. The proposed change would increase the waiting period for work permits from six months to a year, and pause the issuance of new permits until cases are resolved within an average of 180 days. While the Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on internal decisions, the proposal has raised concerns among lawyers and organizations that assist asylum seekers. The potential impact on the lives of those seeking legal opportunities in the US is substantial, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of this policy shift.