LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
Comment on DHS’s proposed rule limiting work permits for asylum seekers
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Speak up before April 24
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule that would severely restrict work permits for asylum seekers. If finalized, this policy would prevent thousands of people from legally supporting themselves and their families while their cases—which often take years—move through the courts.
Your voice is a powerful tool to stop this. By law, federal agencies must review and respond to every public comment before a rule becomes final. When enough people speak out about the harm a policy will cause, the government is forced to reconsider its impact and may be pressured to change or scrap the plan.
The deadline to submit your comment is April 24, 2026. Taking a few minutes to share your concerns is one of the most direct ways you can influence federal policy and protect the right to work.
How to submit a public comment
Submitting a comment only takes a few minutes. Submit your public comment here.
- Use our sample comment below as a starting point. Include the rule reference: DHS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0370. This is required.
- Personalize it with your own perspective or experience.
- Submit your comment to DHS.
Each unique comment must be individually reviewed, so adding your own voice matters.
Tips
- Include the rule reference: DHS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0370. This is required.
- Stay focused on how the rule would cause harm. DHS is only required to respond to comments relevant to the rule.
- Avoid sharing sensitive personal information (comments are public).
- You can submit the rule as an individual, organization, or anonymously. All formats will be accepted.
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What the proposed rule would do
According to expert immigration lawyers, the proposed rule could significantly restrict asylum seekers’ ability to work.
No new work permit applications: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would stop accepting new initial work permit applications from asylum seekers for an extended period of time. The government estimates that it could take up to 173 years before new applications are accepted again.
Longer waiting period: Currently, asylum seekers have to wait 150 days after applying for asylum before requesting a work permit. The proposed rule would increase this waiting period to 365 days, if applications are accepted at all.
Allow broader denials of work permits: The rule would give USCIS officials wide “discretion” to deny work permits for both initial and renewal permits. This means USCIS could deny a work permit application for any reason. This could make it much harder for asylum seekers to maintain the ability to work legally, but we do not know exactly how this could affect people in practice.
This summary is based on analysis by Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project’s (ASAP) expert immigration lawyers as of Feb. 23, 2026. Learn more about the proposed rule on ASAP’s website.
Why this matters
Work permits allow asylum seekers to support themselves and their families while they wait for protection.
Without the ability to work legally:
- Families could struggle to afford basic needs like rent, food, and transportation
- Employers and small businesses could lose essential workers
- Communities across the country could lose people who contribute to local economies and neighborhoods
In practice, this rule could force many people seeking safety into financial instability while they wait for their cases to be decided.
Example comment (make sure to personalize)
I am writing to oppose the proposed rule, “Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants” (DHS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0370), because of the significant harm it would cause to my community, my neighbors, and myself.
REPLACE THIS SECTION WITH YOUR OWN STORY [Add the personal impact or perspective here. (Ex. impact of asylum seekers working in local businesses, supporting healthcare, building roads, etc.)]
By pausing initial work permit processing until the asylum backlog is cleared—something DHS estimates could take several decades—the rule would effectively prevent many people in my community from working legally. In my community, asylum seekers are essential workers who pay rent, support local businesses, and contribute to our economy.
REPLACE THIS SECTION WITH YOUR OWN STORY [Personalize as much as possible: For example, my town’s construction industry heavily relies on asylum seekers, and barring them from work would cause irreparable harm to the local economy and small businesses.]
I urge DHS to withdraw this proposal and protect the ability of asylum seekers to work lawfully while their cases are pending. Thank you.
