Asylum is both a form of protection and an immigration status granted to people who fear persecution in their home countries. Asylum can be sought either by a person who is outside the United States and seeks admission through the refugee resettlement program or as an affirmative application with USCIS. Those seeking asylum must prove that they suffered past persecution on one of five protected grounds (race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or membership in a social group) or have a well-founded fear of future persecution. An individual’s own testimony is typically critical to the asylum determination, but can be supplemented by other evidence such as medical records or government-issued documents.
The process of applying for asylum can be lengthy and complicated. Applicants will submit Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal, to USCIS with a full personal statement explaining the basis of their asylum claim. The asylum officer will then review the application and interview the applicant about their claims. The interviews are conducted in English and often take several hours to complete.
During the last year of FY 2024, more than 70,549 individuals were found to have a credible fear of persecution and received asylum in the United States. However, this number decreased significantly during the final four months of the fiscal year after President Trump issued his proclamation on the U.S.-Mexico border that made most people who enter the country without going through an official port of entry or by avoiding a lawful entry point ineligible for asylum.
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