Removal Proceedings by USCIS Since February

Any alien who was denied an immigration benefit — including asylum, green cards, and work permits, will receive a Notice to Appear (NTA) from the USCIS. According to USCIS, since February 2025, the agency initiated the removal proceedings against more than 26,700 aliens with no legal status to remain in the U.S. The agency also prioritizes screening and vetting of immigration petitions which have led to approximately 1,840 NTAs a week. The NTA issuances include approximately 500 asylum-related (denied or dismissed cases of asylum) NTAs per week, and 100 NTAs in Temporary Protected Status (TPS) cases per week.

What does it mean that Notice to Appear (NTA) issued or why?

Generally, USCIS has discretionary authority to issue the NTAs after the issuance of an unfavorable decision on a benefit request if the alien is removable from the United States. The new guidance of issuance of NTA was issued on February 28, 2025; however, it did not change procedures for cases including TPS or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) cases.

Does it affect the asylum denied or dismissed applicants? How about TPS denied cases?

Yes, according to USCIS, this policy applies to asylum denied cases and the agency issued an approximately 500 asylum-related NTAs per week. For the TPS cases, if DHS Secretary terminates a nation’s TPS designation, the TPS beneficiaries of that nation who have no other authorization to remain in the United States may be subject to NTA issuance.