United States set to close asylum system, ending protection for over 1.3 million migrants

White House officials announced that the United States is moving to shut its asylum system completely. Senior adviser Steven Miller said the country’s doors are “fully closed” to asylum seekers following a Supreme Court ruling that limits the acceptance of claims to migrants who have already crossed the border with Mexico. Miller characterised all pending applications as “fake”, alleging that claimants are not fleeing persecution based on race, ethnicity or religion.

The policy shift would also end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which has provided protection and work authorization to roughly 1.3 million people from 17 countries. Ending TPS could open the door to the removal of thousands of beneficiaries, a change critics describe as a “blow to migrants who have followed the law”. The move is part of the broader immigration tightening pursued by the Trump administration.

The announcement follows the court decision that grants the administration broad authority to curtail the asylum process and signals a major tightening of U.S. immigration policy.