Overview
Protection-based status and programs
Asylum, TPS, DACA, and humanitarian parole protect people who cannot safely return home or face specific vulnerabilities. Country designations and program rules change frequently, particularly TPS, which is regularly extended, terminated, or litigated.
Asylum can be sought by anyone already in the U.S. or arriving at a port of entry who faces persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
TPS (Temporary Protected Status) protects nationals of specific countries affected by ongoing armed conflict, natural disasters, or extraordinary conditions. Each designation is country-specific and must be renewed periodically by DHS.
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) allows certain individuals who arrived as children to receive protection from deportation and apply for work authorization. Its legal status has been contested in federal courts repeatedly since 2012.
Visa types in this category
High-signal items · last 90 days
What to watch
Ranked by impact: rule changes, fee updates, open comment periods, executive actions, and processing shifts. Not just newest: most consequential.
- Published Fed. RegisterOpen for commentsAgency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant
Public comments accepted through .
- Published Fed. RegisterOpen for commentsAgency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Application for Suspension of Deportation or Special Rule Cancellation of Removal (NACARA)
Public comments accepted through .
- Published Fed. RegisterOpen for commentsAgency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Public comments accepted through .
- Published Fed. RegisterOpen for commentsAgency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Application for Temporary Protected Status
Public comments accepted through .
- Published Fed. RegisterOpen for commentsAgency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Application by Refugee for Waiver of Inadmissibility Grounds
Public comments accepted through .
- Published USCISUpdateCuban Aliens and Florida Man Sentenced for Their Roles in an International Alien Smuggling, Asylum Fraud, and Money Laundering Conspiracy
- Published USCISEmbassy / postsUSCIS Opens Asylum Office in Charlotte
- Published DHSDHS is Taking Down Asylum Fraudsters
All updates · newest first
Full update feed
Every update from this category in chronological order, excluding items already shown above.
- Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced for Staging Robberies to Help Others Fraudulently Apply for Immigration VisasUSCISNeg
- Litigation-Related Update: Sileiri Doe Class Members May Request Reopening or Reconsideration of an Adverse Decision Without a FeeUSCISPos
- Determination and Certification With Respect to the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CPSA) of 2008Fed. RegisterNeu
- HSI Investigation Leads to Arrest of Sex Offender Illegal Alien Released by Oregon Sanctuary PoliticiansDHSNeg
- Title: Determinations Pursuant to Section 2(b)(2) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962Fed. RegisterNeu
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant; Correction Action: 60-Day Notice; CorrectionFed. RegisterNeu