started · updated
US asylum denial rates hit record 94% in June 2026
Data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University shows that U.S. asylum denial rates reached a record 94.1% in June 2026. During that month, immigration judges decided over 14,000 cases, but only 771 individuals were granted asylum.
This represents a significant shift from previous years. Under the Biden administration, the grant rate had fallen to approximately 32% from earlier highs of over 50%. The current administration has seen the rate drop to just 5.5% in June 2026.
The decline coincides with a major restructuring of the immigration court bench. Records from the Executive Office for Immigration Review indicate that 279 judges were fired or resigned during fiscal years 2025 and 2026, representing about 38% of the workforce at the end of fiscal year 2024. While new judges have been appointed, TRAC notes that the increase in denials is not solely due to new personnel; three-quarters of judges who remained on the bench from 2021 to 2026 also saw higher denial rates in 2026 compared to 2021.
Specific demographics also showed sharp changes. Data from Mobile Pathways indicates that the proportion of Chinese asylum seekers granted asylum fell to 9% in June 2026, compared to 37% during the same month in 2025.
Entities
Donald Trump · Executive Office for Immigration Review · Joe Biden · Syracuse University · Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The number of concluded asylum cases exceeded 14,000 in both March and June 2026. eluniverso.com · www.epochtimes.com · www.ntd.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Asylum denial rates rose from 60% during the Biden administration to 94% under the current administration. eluniverso.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Immigration judges denied 94.1% of asylum requests in June 2026. eluniverso.com · www.epochtimes.com · www.ntd.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Only 771 people were granted asylum in June 2026. eluniverso.com · www.epochtimes.com · www.ntd.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The percentage of Chinese asylum seekers granted asylum fell to 9% in June 2026, down from 37% the previous year. www.epochtimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A total of 279 immigration judges were fired or resigned during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. www.ntd.com