USCIS Resumes Asylum Decisions: Freeze Lifted for Non-Travel-Ban Countries

In a major development for hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, USCIS has lifted its months-long freeze on asylum adjudications for applicants who are not from travel-ban countries. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed on March 30, 2026 that it "has lifted the adjudicative hold for thoroughly screened asylum seekers from non high-risk countries." Cases that have been sitting untouched since late November 2025 should begin moving again.

The freeze was one of the most sweeping immigration policy actions of the Trump administration's second term. Its partial lifting means that many asylum applicants will finally get decisions on cases that have been in limbo for over four months. But for nationals of the 39 travel-ban countries, the freeze continues — and extends far beyond asylum to work permits, green cards, and even citizenship applications.

What Happened: The Asylum Freeze Explained

In late November 2025, an Afghan man who had been granted asylum earlier that year allegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. One of the Guard members died from her injuries. The Trump administration responded by enacting an unprecedented freeze on all asylum cases overseen by USCIS — regardless of the applicant's nationality, the strength of their case, or how long they had been waiting.

The freeze amounted to a complete suspension of affirmative asylum processing — the system through which asylum seekers file their claims directly with USCIS rather than through immigration court. Hundreds of thousands of pending cases were immediately frozen. No interviews were scheduled. No decisions were issued. Cases that were days away from approval sat untouched.

The administration argued the freeze was necessary to conduct enhanced security vetting procedures. Critics called it an unconstitutional blanket punishment of legal asylum seekers for the actions of one individual.

What Changed on March 30, 2026

DHS has now decided to lift the adjudication freeze for most asylum cases, with one critical exception: nationals of 39 countries that remain on President Trump's expanded travel ban. According to CBS News and Bloomberg, the administration confirmed the change to DHS officials familiar with the plans.

In its statement, DHS said the move "allows resources to focus on continued rigorous national security and public safety vetting for higher-risk cases," while adding that "maximum screening and vetting for ALL aliens continues unabated."

The 39 Travel-Ban Countries: Who Remains Frozen

The travel ban, which President Trump expanded in December 2025, currently covers 39 nations. Nationals of these countries face a continued freeze on all immigration applications — not just asylum. The affected countries include:

• Africa: Somalia, Nigeria, Senegal, Chad, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, and others
• Middle East: Iran, Syria, Yemen
• Central/South Asia: Afghanistan, Laos
• Caribbean/Latin America: Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela

For nationals of these countries, the freeze extends beyond asylum to include:

• Employment Authorization Documents (EADs / work permits)
• Green card adjustment of status applications
• Naturalization (citizenship) applications
• All other immigration benefit requests with USCIS

This means that even lawful permanent residents from these countries who applied for U.S. citizenship face indefinite delays.

What Triggered the D.C. Shooting Freeze

The November 2025 shooting of two National Guard members near a security checkpoint in Washington, D.C. was a turning point in the administration's asylum policy. The suspect, an Afghan national who had been granted asylum in 2025, was charged with murder after one Guard member died from her injuries.

The Trump administration moved quickly, implementing what CBS News described as "an unprecedented move" — a blanket suspension of all asylum requests filed outside immigration court. Unlike previous policy changes that targeted specific nationalities or case types, this freeze was universal. Every pending affirmative asylum case was halted overnight.

Four months later, the administration appears to have concluded that a blanket freeze is unsustainable — at least for applicants from countries not on the travel ban. The partial lifting suggests the administration is shifting toward nationality-based screening rather than a universal hold.

How This Affects Different Types of Asylum Cases

Affirmative Asylum (Filed with USCIS)

This is the category directly affected by the freeze and its partial lifting. If you filed Form I-589 with USCIS and your case has been pending, processing should resume if you are not from a travel-ban country. Expect interview notices to start going out in the coming weeks.

Defensive Asylum (Immigration Court)

Asylum cases in immigration court were not directly subject to the USCIS freeze, but courts have experienced their own backlogs and delays. If your case is in immigration court, the USCIS freeze lifting does not directly affect your proceedings — your case follows the court's schedule.

Asylum-Based Work Permits (EADs)

For non-travel-ban nationals with pending asylum cases, work permit applications should also begin processing again. If your EAD renewal has been stalled since November, contact USCIS or your attorney to confirm it is moving forward.

Refugee Cases

The USCIS freeze was separate from the administration's refugee resettlement policies. Refugee processing operates under different authorities and is subject to different restrictions, including the administration's ongoing re-review of over 200,000 refugees admitted under the Biden administration through Operation PARRIS.

What Asylum Seekers Should Do Right Now

1. Contact Your Attorney

If you have a pending affirmative asylum case and you are not from a travel-ban country, contact your immigration attorney today. Confirm that your case is active and ask about next steps. If you do not have an attorney, now is the time to retain one — your case may be scheduled for an interview in the coming weeks.

2. Update Your Evidence

Four months have passed since the freeze began. If conditions in your home country have changed, if you have new evidence supporting your claim, or if your personal circumstances have shifted, prepare to supplement your application. USCIS will review cases with the evidence on file — make sure yours is complete and current.

3. Check Your Address with USCIS

If you moved during the freeze, make sure USCIS has your current address on file. Interview notices and decisions are sent by mail. A missed notice because of an outdated address can result in your case being closed.

4. Maintain Valid Work Authorization

If your work permit expired or is about to expire, contact your attorney about renewal. With the freeze lifting, EAD processing should resume for eligible applicants. Do not let your work authorization lapse if you can avoid it.

5. Prepare for Your Interview

If you were waiting for an interview before the freeze, expect scheduling to resume. Review your application, gather supporting documents, and practice discussing your claim with your attorney. Preparation is critical — the asylum interview is often the single most important event in your case.

Legal Challenges and What Comes Next

The blanket asylum freeze faced growing legal challenges during its four months in effect. Immigration advocacy organizations argued that a universal freeze based on the actions of one individual violated due process and equal protection principles. Multiple lawsuits were filed challenging the freeze's legality.

The partial lifting does not resolve all legal questions. The continued freeze for 39 nationalities — which affects not just asylum but all immigration benefits — will likely face continued legal challenges. Courts may examine whether nationality-based freezes on immigration processing violate constitutional protections or federal immigration law.

The administration's approach also sets a precedent: a single security incident can trigger a months-long freeze on immigration processing for hundreds of thousands of people. Whether courts will allow similar actions in the future remains an open question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has USCIS resumed processing asylum applications?

Yes. As of March 30, 2026, USCIS has lifted the adjudicative hold for asylum seekers from non-travel-ban countries. If your case was frozen and you are not from one of the 39 listed nations, processing should resume.

Which countries are still affected by the freeze?

Nationals of 39 countries on President Trump's expanded travel ban remain frozen. This includes Afghanistan, Iran, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Somalia, Nigeria, and others. All immigration applications — not just asylum — remain paused for these nationalities.

What should I do if my case was frozen?

Contact your immigration attorney to confirm your case is active. Update your evidence and make sure USCIS has your current address. Prepare for a potential interview in the coming weeks.

Are work permits resuming too?

Work permit applications tied to pending asylum cases should resume for non-travel-ban nationals. If your EAD was stalled, contact USCIS or your attorney to confirm processing has restarted.

Why was the freeze implemented?

The freeze was enacted in late November 2025 after an Afghan asylum recipient allegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. The administration cited national security concerns and suspended all affirmative asylum processing.

If you have a pending asylum case and need legal guidance, contact Modern Law Group at (888) 902-9285. We help asylum seekers across the country navigate the immigration system — including during policy changes like this one.