How many pending asylum applications across all nationalities were affected when USCIS halted asylum decisions in late November 2025?

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Approximately 1.4 million asylum applications were pending before USCIS when Director Edlow ordered the freeze on November 28, 2025. The halt applied to all nationalities, not just Afghans—meaning people fleeing violence in Central America, Africa, Asia, and elsewhere saw their cases frozen indefinitely. Each person in this backlog already waited months or years for interviews and decisions. The pause removed any timeline for resolution, leaving asylum seekers in legal limbo without work authorization or protection from deportation.

How many pending asylum applications across all nationalities were affected when USCIS halted asylum decisions in late November 2025?

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