On March 30, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed a significant — if partial — reversal of one of the most sweeping immigration restrictions enacted during the second Trump administration.
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. DHS confirmed that it "has lifted the adjudicative hold for thoroughly screened asylum seekers from non high-risk countries."
Though its impact will be modest, it's a rare case of the Trump administration walking back an immigration policy.
Background: The November Freeze
The pause came as part of a slew of restrictions on immigration after an Afghan national shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 26, 2025. One of the Guard members died the next day from her injuries.
The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly opened fire on the service members; DHS later confirmed that the suspect had entered the United States in 2021 under humanitarian parole.
The unprecedented move, which the Trump administration argued was necessary to address national security concerns, amounted to an indefinite suspension of all asylum requests filed outside of immigration court, regardless of the applicant's nationality.
The freeze paused the processing of some 4 million asylum applications filed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that oversees the processing of applications for visas, naturalizations, and asylum.
No interviews were scheduled. No decisions were issued. Cases that were days away from approval sat untouched.
What Has Changed
Under the revised guidance,
officers may again issue decisions for applicants from "non-high-risk" countries that clear enhanced vetting — including cross-checks against social-media, criminal, and State Department consular databases.
DHS framed the move as a reallocation of resources.
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."
Critically, USCIS did not say which countries were considered "non-high-risk,"
leaving many applicants uncertain about whether their cases will move forward.
Who Remains Frozen
Adjudications remain on hold for about 40 nations — predominantly in Africa and the Middle East — still subject to separate travel-ban restrictions.
The 39 countries stem from two presidential proclamations combined, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syria, and Palestinian Authority travel document holders, among others.
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.
Currently, there is no set date for resuming asylum decisions for nationals from the 39 paused countries. The freeze remains in effect pending further review of security policies.
For Afghan nationals specifically, the situation is particularly acute. Afghan refugees and asylum seekers — many of whom came to the United States as part of the U.S. evacuation after the fall of Kabul in 2021 and worked alongside American military forces — have faced the harshest restrictions. Consular officials were instructed to refuse all visas to Afghan nationals and even destroy printed visas that had not yet been issued.
Enhanced Vetting and Operation PARRIS
The partial lifting comes within the context of a broader overhaul of USCIS screening procedures.
Over the past several months, USCIS has reviewed and updated screening and vetting practices, including shortening validity periods for certain Employment Authorization Documents, increasing social media and financial vetting and community interviews, and launching Operation PARRIS to conduct additional background checks, re-interviews, and merit reviews of refugee claims.
Through its ongoing comprehensive review, USCIS stated that prior screening and vetting measures were "wholly inadequate" and that many applicants for naturalization and lawful permanent residence were not sufficiently vetted, resulting in approvals that should not have been granted.
DHS also began taking steps to further pause and review legal avenues of migration. USCIS announced it would re-review the status of everyone who had been admitted into the U.S. as a refugee under the Biden administration, essentially reopening those cases. Some of those cases have been referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.
Legal Challenges and Advocacy Response
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.
Advocacy groups welcomed the partial reopening but warned that re-review provisions could still see previously approved refugee or asylum cases referred to ICE for possible removal.
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.
Practical Implications for Applicants
For asylum seekers from non-travel-ban countries, the resumption of processing carries several immediate implications:
- Interview scheduling:
- Evidence and records:
- Work permits:
- Shorter EAD validity:
- Social media scrutiny:
For applicants from the 39 frozen countries, the picture remains bleak.
Asylum seekers from the paused countries should continue to maintain legal status, gather evidence, and consult experienced immigration attorneys. Staying informed about changes and preparing for eventual processing resumption is crucial.
Looking Ahead
USCIS has compiled information on each country listed in the travel ban proclamations and is working with the Department of State to identify risk factors, including indicators of fraud, public safety, or national security risks, and is comparing these to existing screening practices to recommend improvements.
The administration's approach 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.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a pending asylum application or any immigration matter affected by these policy changes, we encourage you to consult with a qualified immigration attorney to discuss your specific situation.