One Year Later, We’re Still Fighting To #LetAsylumSeekersWork

Last October, Refugees International, the Refugee Advocacy Lab, the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association brought together local and national organizations from across the country to launch the #LetAsylumSeekersWork campaign. One year later, our coalition has grown to more than 60 partners, and our call for action is even stronger. 

Our diverse coalition of business leaders, faith leaders, local elected officials, impacted community members, and others from across the country are united in urging Congress to support the bipartisan House Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act (ASWAA). This vital legislation would bolster the workforce and provide families and their communities security by allowing asylum seekers to access work permits sooner. More than 2,000 people from across the country have called on their members of Congress to prioritize this bipartisan solution.

A Commonsense Solution

Right now, a mandated 180-day waiting period to gain work authorization and other bureaucratic obstacles mean that most asylum seekers cannot legally work for at least six months or more. This has devastating effects on asylum seekers and their communities. As we face workforce shortages across key industries, this is also a huge missed opportunity.

The House ASWAA is a bi-partisan bill that would allow asylum seekers to support themselves and their families sooner, while filling needed jobs and becoming more self-sufficient. This commonsense solution is a win-win-win for people seeking safety, the communities welcoming them, and the economy.

Growing Support

Over the last year, hundreds of businesses, trade associations, and chambers of commerce;  faith-based organizations from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths; and national, state, and local organizations have endorsed the campaign, sent letters to Congress, and called on the Biden administration to prioritize actions it can take while we wait for Congress to act. 

A Majority of Americans Support Reduced Wait Times 

The majority of U.S. likely voters—60 percent—are supportive of reducing the wait time for asylum seekers to access work permits, according to a new poll released by Data for Progress, the Refugee Advocacy Lab, and Refugees International. 

Members of Congress should take note that most voters agree: It’s time to #LetAsylumSeekersWork.

“All I Wanted Was To Work”

Andreina Zuluaga knows firsthand how critical work authorization is for people seeking safety. In her piece in City Limits, she explains why access to a work permit was so vital after she was forced to flee political persecution in Venezuela. 

“The hardest thing of all was that I wasn’t allowed to work. Because of a statutory requirement that asylum seekers wait 180 days for a work permit, it was six months before I was granted work authorization. That was a very challenging time.”

Diverse Leaders Speak Out

Get Involved!

Let your Member of Congress know that you support letting asylum seekers work and want them to support the House Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act. Join the movement!