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 USCISFeesFinal ruleDHS Announces Consequences for Unpaid Annual Asylum Fees, Unveils New H.R. 1 Requirements
- Published DHSUpdateUSCIS Reveals Rampant Fraud Among Juvenile Immigrant Claims
- Published Fed. RegisterExtension of Lebanon Designation for Temporary Protected Status
- Published USCISProcessingDHS Automatically Extends Temporary Protected Status for Lebanon
- Published USCISEmbassy / postsUSCIS Opens Asylum Office in San Antonio
- Published DHSDHS Takes Additional Steps to Crack Down on Asylum Fraud
All updates · newest first
Full update feed
Every update from this category in chronological order, excluding items already shown above.
- USCIS Issues New Instructions for Filing Asylum Applications with USCIS After EOIR Dismissal or Termination of Removal ProceedingsUSCISNeu
- USCIS Continues Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processing for Afghan NationalsUSCISPos
- USCIS Increases Employment Authorization Document Validity Period for Certain CategoriesUSCISPos
- Important Update on Deferred Action for Childhood ArrivalsUSCISNeg
- Affirmative Asylum Applicants Must Provide Interpreters Starting Sept. 13USCISNeg
- DHS Extends TPS Re-registration Periods for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sudan to 18 MonthsUSCISPos
- Certain Afghan Parolees Are Employment Authorized Incident to ParoleUSCISPos
- USCIS Changes Filing Location and Documentation Requirements for Certain Affirmative Asylum Applications Using Form I-589USCISNeu
- USCIS Providing Documents After Notice of Immigration Judge and BIA Decisions About Immigration StatusUSCISPos