Trump Sets To Suspend Asylum Seekers’ Work Permits Under Sweeping Proposal
President Donald Trump’s administration has unveiled a far-reaching proposal that could halt work permits for asylum applicants in the United States for what officials acknowledge may stretch into “many years.” This marked one of the most dramatic overhauls of employment authorisation rules in decades. In a proposed regulation released on Friday, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) outlined plans to suspend the issuance of employment authorisation documents for new asylum seekers until the government significantly reduces processing backlogs, according to Reuters. The measure is part of a broader immigration crackdown pursued since Trump returned to the White House in 2025 on a platform centered on curbing both legal and illegal immigration. Under the proposal, DHS would stop granting work permits to new asylum applicants until average adjudication times for certain cases fall to 180 days or less. Current backlogs make that benchmark appear distant. The department estimated that, based on existing wait times, it could take anywhere from 14 to 173 years to reach the threshold required to resume issuing permits. However, officials noted that policy changes and administrative reforms could shorten that timeline. The draft rule also tightens eligibility standards, asserting that a work permit “is not an entitlement” but a discretionary benefit granted by the DHS secretary. In a significant shift, migrants who entered the United States unlawfully would generally be barred from obtaining new work permits or renewing existing ones. Limited exceptions would apply to individuals who informed U.S. border authorities within 48 hours of entry that they feared persecution, torture, or faced another urgent circumstance compelling their unlawful crossing. DHS defended the proposal as a necessary step to deter abuse of the asylum system. “This rule, if finalized, would reduce the incentive to file frivolous, fraudulent, or otherwise meritless asylum claims,” the department reportedly said in a statement. The administration argues that the current system creates a pull factor by allowing asylum applicants to obtain legal work authorization while their cases, often backlogged for years, are pending. Officials say reducing access to employment authorisation would ease pressure on the system and allow for more thorough security screenings. The proposal is expected to draw immediate legal challenges from immigrant rights groups and could face opposition from Democratic lawmakers, who argue that restricting work permits undermines long-standing US asylum protections and international obligations. The regulatory process is likely to be lengthy. DHS will accept public comments for 60 days after the rule is formally published in the Federal Register on Monday, after which it may revise and finalize the measure, a process that can take months or even years. Advocates warn that suspending work authorisation could leave thousands of asylum seekers without lawful means to support themselves while awaiting decisions, potentially increasing poverty and instability among migrant communities across the country.
