USCIS Resumes Processing Pending Asylum Petitions, Reports Say
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will lift the pause on select asylum applications, according to outlets like Bloomberg and CBS News.
On December 2, the federal agency stopped adjudicating all I-539 petitions days after the shooting of two National Guard members in D.C. The freeze applied to all pending cases, regardless of whether they came from individuals listed under the latest travel ban.
Those from countries deemed by the administration as a national security risk will continue to have their asylum application frozen.
Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar says even if there are reports that the hold may be partially lifted, the Department of Homeland Security has not publicly confirmed this policy shift. “Until we get more guidance from the government, I recommend all foreign nationals with pending cases to hold tight and avoid making any major decisions that could jeopardize their application,” she says. “Avoid international travel, and contact an attorney if you receive any notices from USCIS.”
This is a developing story. We’ll continue to update this article as more information gets released to the public.
