With Noem out, Catholic advocates urge shift in U.S. immigration policy

Key Takeaways

• OSV News reports that Catholic immigration advocates are pressing the administration to change course on immigration and asylum policy following developments involving South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
• Faith-based groups are calling for humane border management, restored asylum access, faster work authorization, and protections for family unity.
• No immediate policy changes have been announced; current rules on CBP One, asylum eligibility limits, and USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) fees remain in effect.
• Any shifts would affect asylum seekers, humanitarian parolees, TPS (Temporary Protected Status) holders, and employers reliant on immigrant labor.

What advocates are saying

OSV News reports that, with Noem out, Catholic immigration advocates are urging the administration to recalibrate its approach at the border and within the interior. Their agenda centers on restoring robust access to asylum, expanding lawful pathways like refugee resettlement and family visas, accelerating work permits (Employment Authorization Documents, or EADs), and safeguarding family unity. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic social service agencies have long backed these priorities, arguing that deterrence-first strategies place vulnerable people at risk and strain faith-based and community resources. It has been reported that advocates want both executive action and bipartisan legislation to deliver durable solutions.

Policy backdrop

Since 2023, the administration has paired limited new avenues—such as CBP One scheduling at ports of entry and humanitarian parole for select nationalities—with tougher consequences for irregular crossings, including rules that narrow asylum eligibility when migrants do not use approved pathways. Refugee admissions ceilings were set high by recent standards, yet actual admissions have lagged targets amid processing constraints. Inside the United States, USCIS raised most filing fees on April 1, 2024, while also implementing a temporary 540‑day automatic extension for many expiring EADs to blunt backlogs. Processing times for asylum, family-based cases, and employment petitions remain uneven, affecting both newcomers and U.S. employers.

What this means right now

For people in the immigration process today, nothing changes immediately. Asylum seekers at the border should continue using CBP One to seek appointments and be prepared for screening under current rules. Those already in the U.S. seeking work authorization must track the 150/180‑day asylum “clock” and, where eligible, may benefit from the 540‑day automatic EAD extension. TPS holders should follow re‑registration windows closely, and parolees must maintain valid I‑94 records and renew as required. Legal counsel remains essential; avoid notario fraud and monitor agency updates.

What to watch

Advocates are pressing for steps the White House could take without Congress—such as revising asylum regulations, expanding or redesignating TPS, shortening EAD processing, and limiting family detention—alongside a renewed push for legislative reforms on legalization and modernized worker visas. Litigation and state-level actions could influence timelines. For now, stakeholders should watch for DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and USCIS policy notices, and be ready to adapt quickly if the administration adjusts enforcement priorities or opens additional legal pathways.

Source: Original Article