US Proposal to Block Asylum Seekers from Working Sparks Global Concern
Washington, 21 February 2026
The US Department of Homeland Security’s proposed rule would prevent asylum seekers from obtaining work permits whilst their cases remain pending, potentially affecting millions waiting in a severely backlogged system where cases take years to resolve. World Relief warns this approach creates underground employment markets rather than deterring migration, whilst directly impacting US citizen children whose parents face economic hardship.
Humanitarian Organisation Challenges Policy Logic
World Relief, a major evangelical humanitarian organisation, has mounted a direct challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed restrictions, arguing that blocking asylum seekers’ work eligibility fundamentally misunderstands labour market dynamics [1]. Myal Greene, the organisation’s president and CEO, stated that ‘penalizing asylum seekers who are trying to follow the rules by blocking their ability to work legally is not a solution to a backlogged system’ [1]. The organisation’s statement, issued on Saturday, 21 February 2026, emphasises that preventing legal employment does not eliminate the demand for labour but instead ‘creates a market for unlawful employment’ [1].
System Backlogs Create Prolonged Uncertainty
The humanitarian organisation’s critique centres on the reality that asylum cases currently experience significant processing delays, with Greene noting that ‘the asylum system is so woefully backlogged and cases often take years to process’ [1]. This extended timeline means asylum seekers could face years without legal work authorisation under the proposed rule, creating sustained economic hardship for families already fleeing persecution [1]. World Relief argues this prolonged uncertainty particularly affects vulnerable populations who have followed proper legal channels to seek protection in the United States [1].
Impact on US Citizen Children
A significant concern raised by World Relief relates to the indirect effects on American families, as Greene warned that the proposed restrictions ‘will directly impact a significant number of small children who are U.S. citizens’ [1]. This demographic represents children born to asylum seekers whilst their parents’ cases remain pending, creating a situation where American citizens could face economic deprivation due to their parents’ inability to work legally [1]. The organisation’s statement highlights how immigration policy decisions can have cascading effects on vulnerable populations beyond the direct applicants [1].
Alternative Solutions Proposed
Rather than restricting work eligibility, World Relief advocates for addressing the root cause of asylum processing delays through improved resource allocation [1]. Greene urged the Department of Homeland Security to ‘instead direct resources to make meaningful strides in processing and adjudicating cases’ [1]. The organisation also called on the United States to ‘honor the commitment the U.S. has made to offer asylum to those who can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution under the terms of U.S. law’ [1]. This approach suggests focusing on system efficiency rather than limiting applicant rights as the pathway to managing asylum caseloads [1].