Trump lifts pause on asylum for some migrants

The Trump administration said Monday it is renewing processing of asylum applications from some countries, a move that will have limited impact but nonetheless scales back current restrictions.

The administration further paused asylum processing by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the wake of a November shooting carried out by an Afghan man who came to the country after working with the U.S. military.

Monday’s move, however, does not apply to asylum-seekers from the 39 countries covered by President Trump’s expanded travel ban, a group that constitutes the bulk of the 1.5 million applicants.

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“Under the leadership of President Trump, maximum screening and vetting for ALL aliens continues unabated. USCIS has lifted the adjudicative hold for thoroughly screened asylum seekers from non high-risk countries. This move allows resources to focus on continued rigorous national security and public safety vetting for higher-risk cases,” the USCIS said in a statement.

CBS News first reported the development.

Though its impact will be modest, it’s a rare case of the Trump administration walking back an immigration policy.

On his first day in office, Trump ended seeking asylum at ports of entry and canceled the appointment of those seeking to cross the border to do so. He also signed an order reinstituting “Remain in Mexico,” trying to push asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico while the USCIS considers their case.

The administration has still paused the processing of immigrant visas for those from 75 countries and has also kept the broader restrictions on the travel ban countries.

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