Asylumist
asylumist.bsky.social
Asylumist
@asylumist.bsky.social
Jason Dzubow; Asylum Attorney in Washington, DC; immigration law; blogger (Asylumist.com)
The Courage to Save Our Souls

In a recent article, The Trump-Era Laughter at Immigrant Suffering Is Deforming Our Souls, Russell Moore writes, “What we learn to laugh at trains our consciences to enjoy and not to recoil from what once would have shocked us.” asylumist.com/2026/09/16/t...
The Courage to Save Our Souls - The Asylumist
I was struck by a recent article in Christianity Today, The Trump-Era Laughter at Immigrant Suffering Is Deforming Our Souls, by Russell Moore. The article discusses the “funny” memes, songs, and joke...
asylumist.com
September 16, 2026 at 11:40 AM
The Unjust Justification for Revoking Asylum Seekers’ Visas

The State Department plans to revoke asylum seekers’ visas. While the effect on most applicants will be minimal, the harm to our government’s moral standing and commitment to the rule of law will be profound. asylumist.com/2026/09/02/t...
The Unjust Justification for Revoking Asylum Seekers' Visas - The Asylumist
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) plans to revoke up to 200,000 visitor visas for people who came to the United States and then applied for asylum. The move is largely symbolic, since the whole point...
asylumist.com
September 2, 2026 at 11:20 AM
More Sneaky Ways to Deny Asylum, Courtesy of the Asylum Office

#uscis has issued new rules for cases at the #asylum office. These relate to when evidence is due, rescheduling interviews, and attorney attendance at interviews. asylumist.com/2026/08/26/m...
More Sneaky Ways to Deny Asylum, Courtesy of the Asylum Office - The Asylumist
When asylum seekers are permitted to present their applications for protection in the United States, their cases are often granted. That’s because the asylum law–as created by Congress–is fairly gener...
asylumist.com
August 26, 2026 at 11:43 AM
The Time to Pay the Asylum Fee Is Now

For many #asylum seekers, the window to pay the annual asylum fee closed before they could pay. But recently, the window has reopened and the time to pay is now. asylumist.com/2026/08/19/t...
The Time to Pay the Asylum Fee Is Now - The Asylumist
Last year, the One Big Beautiful Bill created a filing fee for asylum and an annual fee that asylum seekers must pay each year their application is pending. Unfortunately, the roll out of the fee paym...
asylumist.com
August 19, 2026 at 12:07 PM
No Fly Zone

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard reports about ICE detaining #asylum seekers and other non-citizens at airports during domestic travel. Which travelers face a risk of detention? And is there anything you can do to protect yourself? asylumist.com/2026/08/12/n...
No Fly Zone
By now, I’m sure you’ve heard reports about ICE detaining asylum seekers and other non-citizens at airports during domestic travel. According to one DHS official, “ICE is now maki…
asylumist.com
August 12, 2026 at 9:53 PM
New Rule Aims to Send Affirmative #Asylum Seekers to Court Without an Interview

Here, we’ll take a look at what the rule says, how it might impact affirmative asylum seekers, and what you can do about it. asylumist.com/2026/07/29/n...
New Rule Aims to Send Affirmative Asylum Seekers to Court Without an Interview
Earlier this week, a new rule went into effect, which permits the Asylum Office to send certain affirmative asylum applicants to Immigration Court without an interview. The purported justification …
asylumist.com
July 29, 2026 at 11:56 AM
On Top of Everything Else, Immigrants Are Being Targeted by Scammers

During the past year, #immigration lawyers and non-profits have reported a sharp increase in scams targeting non-citizens. asylumist.com/2026/07/22/o...
On Top of Everything Else, Immigrants Are Being Targeted by Scammers
During the past year, immigration lawyers and non-profits have reported a sharp increase in scams targeting non-citizens. From the scammers’ perspective, there is a sad logic to this: It is e…
asylumist.com
July 22, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The Escalating Threat of Third Country Deportations

The Trump Administration has dramatically increased the practice of #Deporting non-citizens to third countries. As of May 2026, more than 21,000 people have been removed to at least 24 different countries. asylumist.com/2026/07/15/t...
July 15, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Celebrating 250 Years of America!

To celebrate America is to celebrate #immigration. asylumist.com/2026/07/01/c...
July 1, 2026 at 11:37 AM
In light of the Supreme Court ruling allowing DHS to end TPS, I wanted to re-post this article as a possible option for some affected people: asylumist.com/2025/02/05/i...
If TPS Is Cancelled, Could Asylum Be an Option?
In the waning days of the Biden Administration, DHS extended Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for Venezuelans until October 2026. Last week, the Trump Administration rescinded that de…
asylumist.com
June 26, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Surviving the New Mega-Master Calendar Hearings

What is the purpose of these mega MCHs and why are they problematic? What should you do if you are waiting for your MCH in Immigration Court? asylumist.com/2026/06/24/s...
Surviving the New Mega-Master Calendar Hearings
The Trump Administration has been using all the tools in its vast toolkit to make life more difficult for immigrants. Their newest machination is the “mega” Master Calendar Hearing in I…
asylumist.com
June 24, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Incompetence and Laziness in Immigration Court

The #immigration judge was unprepared for the case, he did not know the law, and he ignored direct orders from a higher court. asylumist.com/2026/06/17/i...
Incompetence and Laziness in Immigration Court
I recently appeared in court before a newly-appointed Immigration Judge. Unlike some of the new hires, this IJ had prior government experience in the immigration arena. He also previously served as…
asylumist.com
June 17, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Rumors of Asylum’s Death Have Been Greatly (Somewhat? Slightly?) Exaggerated

The White House recently announced that asylum grant rates have “collapsed” to less than 7% in Immigration Court. How does this overall negative trend apply to an individual #asylum case? asylumist.com/2026/06/03/r...
Rumors of Asylum’s Death Have Been Greatly (Somewhat? Slightly?) Exaggerated
In a recent announcement, the White House stated that asylum grant rates have “collapsed” in Immigration Court. “Under President Trump,” the announcement continues, “a…
asylumist.com
June 3, 2026 at 11:38 AM
USCIS Memo Seeks to Limit Adjustment of Status; How Does This Affect Asylees, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers? asylumist.com/2026/05/27/u...
USCIS Memo Seeks to Limit Adjustment of Status; How Does This Affect Asylees, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers?
Last week, USCIS issued a Policy Memorandum stating that adjustment of status (i.e., obtaining a Green Card inside the United States) is an “extraordinary” form of relief and is only av…
asylumist.com
May 27, 2026 at 11:37 AM
The Administration’s Attack on I-730 Petitions

Asylee and refugee "follow to join" beneficiaries from "banned" countries are being blocked from coming to the United States. asylumist.com/2026/05/20/t...
The Administration’s Attack on I-730 Petitions
A few months ago, the Trump Administration instituted two travel bans, blocking nationals of 39 countries from coming to the United States. The bans explicitly stated that they would not apply to “…
asylumist.com
May 20, 2026 at 11:48 AM
New Tool to Monitor USCIS’s Progress (or Lack Thereof)

The American Immigration Council (AIC) has a new web page that collects and organizes statistical information from #uscis, including for asylum and asylum-adjacent applications. asylumist.com/2026/05/13/n...
New Tool to Monitor USCIS’s Progress (or Lack Thereof)
The American Immigration Council (AIC) has a new web page that collects and organizes statistical information from USCIS. The data spans the period from FY2016 through FY2025 (October 2015 through …
asylumist.com
May 13, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Green Card Processing for Asylees Is Down 95% Since President Trump Took Office

A new report from the Cato Institute found that USCIS under the Trump Administration has slashed overall Green Card processing; asylees and refugees have been hit particularly hard. asylumist.com/2026/04/29/g...
Green Card Processing for Asylees Is Down 95% Since President Trump Took Office
A new report from the Cato Institute found that USCIS under the Trump Administration has slashed overall Green Card processing by about 50%. Certain categories of Green Card applicants–includ…
asylumist.com
April 29, 2026 at 11:17 AM
New–and Dangerous–Questions at the Asylum Office

Recently, we’ve been seeing some unusual questions during #asylum interviews. Since this is the Trump Administration, you can probably guess that the new questions are not designed to make life easier for asylum seekers. asylumist.com/2026/04/22/n...
New–and Dangerous–Questions at the Asylum Office
Recently, we’ve been seeing some unusual questions during asylum interviews. Applicants are being asked about their views of America and of Jewish people. They are asked about their finances …
asylumist.com
April 22, 2026 at 11:51 AM
USCIS Ends Some “Holds,” Including on Certain Asylum Seekers

In a rare bit of good news from the Trump Administration, USCIS has issued an update indicating that some holds have been lifted for #asylum seekers and others. asylumist.com/2026/04/08/u...
April 8, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Affirmative Asylum Cases Dismissed and Sent to Court Without an Interview

#asylum seekers who were living their lives, working and going to school, suddenly found themselves in imminent danger of deportation, and in some cases, detained in a remote location. asylumist.com/2026/04/01/a...
Affirmative Asylum Cases Dismissed and Sent to Court Without an Interview
One quiet trend that has recently come to light is a new practice at the Asylum Office to dismiss affirmative applications without processing them. The asylum seekers are then subject to “exp…
asylumist.com
April 1, 2026 at 11:24 AM
A German Right-Wing Influencer Has Requested Asylum in the U.S. Does She Have a Case?

Ben Harville examines whether the German #asylum seeker has a case under the Trump Administration's new asylum regime. asylumist.com/2026/03/25/a...
A German Right-Wing Influencer Has Requested Asylum in the U.S. Does She Have a Case?
This post is by Ben Harville, an immigration attorney in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His practice includes family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, asylum, humanitarian relief, citizenship…
asylumist.com
March 25, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Interview with an Immigration Judge: Larry Burman

We had some technical issues/cyber attacks last week, but the blog seems to be working now. So I am re-posting this interview with one of my favorite IJs: asylumist.com/2026/03/11/i...
March 18, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Interview with an Immigration Judge: Larry Burman

Larry Burman served as an IJ from 1998 until his recent retirement at the end of 2025. Here, he discusses his career, the changes he’s witnessed over the years, and his view of the Immigration Courts today. asylumist.com/2026/03/11/i...
Interview with an Immigration Judge: Larry Burman
Lawrence “Larry” Burman served as an Immigration Judge from 1998 until his recent retirement at the end of 2025. The Asylumist caught up with Judge Burman to discuss his career, the changes he’s wi…
asylumist.com
March 11, 2026 at 11:31 AM
U.S. to Refugees: “Welcome to America! Now, Go to Jail!”

A new memo from USCIS and ICE seeks to detain all #refugees who have been in the U.S. for more than a year and who have not yet received their Green Cards. asylumist.com/2026/03/04/u...
March 4, 2026 at 12:28 PM
News from the Asylum Office: Blocking Work Permits & Updating Statistics

Here, we'll discuss new restrictions on EADs for #asylum seekers, as well as recent statistics that show a steep decline in Asylum Office approvals. asylumist.com/2026/02/25/n...
February 25, 2026 at 12:43 PM