Trump Administration Slashes U.S. Refugee and Asylum Programs

In early 2025 the Trump administration suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, issued a new travel ban six months later, and enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that trimmed eligibility for SNAP benefits and health care. By early 2026 the Department of Homeland Security began reviewing and potentially ending protections for refugees previously vetted under the program, intensifying uncertainty for asylum seekers.

A new USCIS rule now allows asylum officers to refer hundreds of thousands of applications directly to immigration courts, a change that has driven asylum approval rates to their lowest level in at least two decades. Advocates such as immigration attorney Ruby Powers warn that the tightened rules leave many fleeing persecution with limited legal avenues.

Amid the federal cutbacks, local initiatives like the Refugee Collective in Austin continue to provide case management, English classes, and employment opportunities for refugees, aiming to bridge the gaps left by the shrinking government support system.