US to lift ban on asylum claims for countries not on travel ban list

Following the November 2025 shooting death of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, the Donald Trump administration announced a complete ban on asylum cases because the DC shooter was an Afghan man who had been granted asylum in 2025. The administration placed a halt on asylum cases being handled by USCIS. Shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal was deported from Afghanistan in 2021, when the US withdrew its troops from the country. CBS News reported that after three months of the moratorium, the administration has now decided to lift the moratorium on asylum adjudications for most cases except those filed by citizens of countries on the travel ban list.

Which asylum cases are handled by USCIS

There are mainly two types of asylum processes in the US – one handled by USCIS and the other handled by immigration courts. The first type was the one which had been on pause for the last few months. This is where people voluntarily file their case with USCIS to seek asylum in America. They have an interview with an asylum officer and if denied they are sent to immigration court. The second type is those handled by the immigration court. This process is defensive because the person goes to court to avoid deportation.

List of non-exempt countries

Officials confirmed to CBS that the asylum ban will remain in place for immigrants from the 39 countries whose citizens face full or partial entry bans. The decision to lift the ban applies to non-high-risk countries other than this list. afghanistanBurkina FasoBurma (Myanmar)piece of paperequatorial guineaeritreahaitiiranlaosLibyagardenernigerTravel document issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authorityrepublic of congoSierra LeonesomaliaSouth SudanSudanSyriayemenAngolaAntigua and Barbudabeninburundicote d’ivoireCubaDominicagabonGambiamalawimauritaniaNigeriasenegaltanzaniaTo goTongaVenezuelazambia Zimbabwe.